Research Ethics

Dublin City University endeavours to ensure that all research carried out by DCU researchers is ethically sound and adheres to the highest standards of research integrity. All research projects must be conducted in accordance with the law, and also according to acceptable ethical standards. Maintaining well-established ethical standards is an important aspect of upholding the integrity of the research process. Ethically questionable research can reflect negatively on the reputation and liability of both researchers and the University. Research may place burdens on participants or put them at increased risk of harm which could be avoided or reduced. Such burdens or harm can be physical, psychological, social or financial.

The following sections outline the role of the DCU Research Ethics Committee in this process, and provide guidelines on the levels of review conducted. Researchers should take a look at our research resources to inform the ethical assessment of their project, prior to commencing the ethics application process.

Information and Guidance

Role of the Research Ethics Committee (REC)

The DCU Research Ethics Committee (REC) facilitates the ethical review and approval process by providing feedback on research ethics submissions so that any risk of harm is minimised and various ethical principles are promoted. The committee includes researchers from various disciplines and independent non-researchers who volunteer their time to review REC applications. As participation in research projects is voluntary, REC reviews the accuracy, clarity and reading level of information intended for potential participants in order to promote informed consent.

Please note that undergraduate and taught masters research projects are reviewed at local School level. Students should liaise with their supervisors regarding this process.

The REC reports to the DCU Research Committee and is supported by Research and Innovation Support. Please find the REC calendar of meeting dates here.

The REC has a number of primary aims:

To protect the rights and welfare of human participants and animal subjects in research studies or trials conducted by, or involving, DCU researchers.
To facilitate the conduct of ethically sound, legally compliant research at DCU in accordance with national and EU legislation.
To advise the Research Committee on the further development of ethical policies and procedures at DCU.

REC functions and responsibilities include:

Preparation of advisory documents for the further development of ethical policies and procedures as required.
Development of appropriate Standard Operating Procedures for research ethics management.
Promotion and communication of research ethics policies and procedures to DCU researchers.
Monitoring institutional compliance with relevant EU legislation and with institutional requirements under the terms of externally sponsored research contracts.
Establishment of sub-committees and procedures for sub-committees to consider the ethical implications of proposed research projects and to monitor the performance and activities of these sub-committees.

Further information on the REC can be found in the links below:

Members of the DCU Research Ethics Committee
Terms of Reference for the DCU Research Ethics Committee
Rules of Procedure for the DCU Research Ethics Committee (under revision)
Requirements for Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FREC) Tiered Review

Personal Data and the Research Ethics Process

If your research will involve collecting or processing personal data, there are some steps you need to take before applying for ethical approval. You must first complete the DCU online Data Protection training course and review the guidance from the Data Protection Unit to assist you in meeting your legal obligations under GDPR and associated Irish law.

The DCU Data Protection Unit (DPU) provide a Toolkit for Researchers which will assist in this regard, including a GDPR Questionnaire to facilitate researchers in their own assessment of the possible data protection risks associated with their research project.

Your local unit ‘GDPR Advocate’ can also assist with specific queries related to the management of personal data within a research proposal. A list of GDPR Advocates by Unit is available on the DPU Staff Resources page.

External Ethics Approval

External Ethics Approval and other required permissions

DCU-based researchers who have obtained ethical approval from appropriately constituted research ethics committees outside DCU should notify DCUREC of this approval. This process involves e-mailing rec@dcu.ie with details of the research and attaching a scanned copy of the external application and REC approval letter. The DCU REC will then advise whether an application to the DCUREC is required. While DCU may accept notification of ethical approval from other Irish-based ethics committees in the same legal jurisdiction, it is the researchers’ responsibility to determine if other organisations will accept DCU REC approval in lieu of their own ethical approval processes.

Please note that having external REC approval may not suffice for research involving both off-site and on-site (DCU-based) components. For example, a project where some parts of the project occur at a hospital and other parts are conducted at DCU may require ethical approval from both the hospital and DCU REC. Or if a DCU staff member is registered for a PhD with another institution and will be applying to them for ethical approval, but they intend on involving their DCU students as research participants. The type of submission needed at DCU will depend on the specific research being conducted here - please contact rec@dcu.ie to discuss your particular requirements.

Even if a project has received external REC approval which has been accepted by DCUREC, other permissions may be required to obtain access to potential participants or to conduct research on specific premises. This includes permission to contact students, employees, patients, clients, etc. using email lists, giving presentations to groups, etc. It is the researcher’s responsibility to identify the permissions needed, note these in the relevant REC application and obtain them prior to contacting potential participants or initiating research. Data Protection issues must also be complied with by researchers (e.g. a data sharing agreement should be in place between DCU and other project partners if you are processing personal data within DCU). Please note that all queries regarding data protection must be raised with the Data Protection Unit. All queries regarding DCU indemnity for those conducting research offsite must be raised with Brendan Blake (Insurance Manager, DCU Finance) who liaises with the DCU insurers on these matters.

For external researchers who are looking to access DCU staff or students as potential participants for their research study, they need to contact rec@dcu.ie with details of their proposed research and the approval letter from the external Research Ethics Committee who reviewed their research study. The DCU REC will then decide whether further review is required, or additional information (e.g. indemnity insurance statement). Note that applicants would still need to obtain permission from the relevant authority (Head of School, Director of Student Support etc.) to access the particular cohort of potential participants.

Developing a REC Application

A REC application differs from a research proposal or a funding application. The focus of the REC application should be on identifying the ethical issues in a project and explaining how these will be addressed. At the same time, the project must be described in sufficient detail that reviewers can evaluate what will be expected of participants and what they will be exposed to. Research methodology is not the focus of ethical review, but methodological quality is an ethical issue. For example, conducting a poorly designed research project raises ethical questions around distributive justice as resources may be wasted. As poor-quality research will rarely produce benefits, the balance of benefits and risks will be disproportionate. REC does not evaluate why specific research methodologies are used, but those selected should be used according to the standards of that research field. They should also be described in plain language so that potential participants can make informed decisions about participation.

A REC application should be submitted only after the research project has been developed and agreed upon by the research team. Some research methods require flexibility as projects develop, and this should be noted in the application. However, REC cannot approve a project while core features remain undecided or are unclearly described. Participant information sheets, informed consent forms, letters to participants, data collection tools (including surveys, interview guides, etc.), and other documents should be submitted with the REC application as they will be used. Allowance can be made for commercial instruments that cannot be copied. In such cases, descriptions or URLs should be provided that allow them to be reviewed.

Research ethics involves the application of a relatively small number of ethical principles to a large variety of research topics and methods. Foremost is the importance of respecting research subjects and participants. Subjects should not be treated as mere means to the ends of others, even when those ends are valuable research results. The research process includes a number of mechanisms designed to promote respect for subjects. This includes providing potential participants enough information in suitable format that they understand what they are being asked to do, why, and the potential risks and benefits. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed as these have the potential to reduce respect for subjects. Such conflicts may be financial, but can include other interests such as ideological or others. These should be identified in the REC application and methods to counteract their influence discussed.

A second ethical principle in research is fairness or justice. Participants should be selected fairly, based on the goals of the research, not convenience or because the researchers have access to or influence over them. The voluntary nature of research participation places a requirement on researchers to design and conduct research well. Poorly designed or flawed research can waste participants’ time and effort, as well as the resources used for the research.

The third general area of ethical concern is subject well-being. REC review involves an assessment of the potential risks and harms involved in the research. These should be clearly described in the REC application, as well as the methods by which harm is minimised. When researchers are students, the supervisory mechanisms should be described so that it is clear how participants will be protected from harm that might arise due to students’ lack of research experience.

Instances where DCU REC review may not be required

Not all research requires an application to REC. Such exempted research would be projects that do not involve animals or humans as participants or subjects. Examples include:

Research on publicly available information or records, such as: political speeches or debates; newspapers; opinion pieces; open-source qualitative data; company mission statements, etc.
Projects involving assessment or audit of standard practice, such as clinical audit or assessment of teaching practice. The focus of exempted projects should be on-going practice or learning.

The boundary between audit and research is not clear-cut, especially if the intention is to publish the results of such studies. Researchers should evaluate whether journals in their field will expect such projects to have received formal ethical approval.

If you feel your project does not require REC approval, you must contact rec@dcu.ie to confirm that this is the case.

REC Review Process - Overview

The researcher, supervisor and research team (as applicable) should carry out an ethical assessment of their project to determine the appropriate level of review. The level of ethical review required will be dependent on a combination of risk assessment, the specific population to be researched, and the research methods to be used. Advice on this can be sought in advance of submission via rec@dcu.ie . You will be required to discuss the ethical risks and provide a brief justification for the level of risk within your REC application, and this will be evaluated as part of the review. Guidelines on level of review are provided in the next section - these are deliberately broad because the ethical issues involved in specific research projects will be determined by their details. Examples are provided in each category, but these are not an exhaustive list of the projects falling into each category.

Once the level of review has been determined, complete the required application form. Please refer to the REC guidelines to inform completion of this documentation.

Check the next submission date for REC review. Please refer to the current REC calendar of submission and meeting dates. The REC administrator will communicate with you regarding the results of your application, or if any further information is needed.

Your completed application should be submitted in one electronic pdf file (to include application form and all additional documents) to the Research Ethics Application Portal on Loop.

The application will be reviewed by REC members at the next available REC meeting and the review outcome will be communicated to you via rec@dcu.ie , usually within five working days of the meeting taking place. Your application may be approved outright, approved with minor revisions, remain pending subject to additional information being provided to reviewers, or be recommended for resubmission. If minor revisions are required, you should address the issues raised in your return e-mail and submit the revised application within a week of the notification of the result. Research should not begin until you receive the e-letter of approval from REC.

Level of Review (Notification, Expedited, Full Committee)

This level of review is to approve relatively low-risk research involving human participants, primarily using social science methodologies in which any personal information collected is not of a sensitive nature.

Some general examples of projects in this category are listed below. (Please note that Faculty Research Ethics Committees and school ethics panels may be more specific as to what constitutes low-risk research within their area, so if your research is being ethically reviewed at that level, please consult them for guidance).

Anonymous surveys in which the topic itself is not likely to elicit significant difficulties for the participants, such as: anonymous internet surveys (e.g. Survey Monkey), street questioning.
Observation (without audio or visual recording) of public settings where privacy would not normally be expected, such as observing people on streets or at sports events.
Research carrying no risks beyond those of everyday life (as experienced by the intended participant population), such as asking people’s opinions about products or services; asking third-level students not in a dependant relationaship with the researcher about educational experiences; monitoring the impact of daily activities.
Interviews with public figures, professionals or others in their professional capacity regarding their professional activities.
Analysis of data (e.g. health records) which have had all identifying information removed by the data holder and been provided to the researcher in accordance with data protection legislation.
Collection of biological samples which are anonymised and do not require invasive techniques (e.g. hair, nails).

Expedited reviews are conducted by a REC sub-group. This level of review would apply to studies where, although information of a sensitive or personal nature may be sought, the risks to participants are considered moderate. When applying for expedited review, the researcher must consider the level of risk associated with the study and a justification must be provided to REC for why this level of review is sought. The level of risk may be influenced by the following factors: the vulnerability of the research group; the methods used; and the nature of the research itself.

Examples of projects in this category include:

Research involving specified, REC pre-approved invasive techniques such as blood collection where standardised protocols, necessary training and appropriate supervision are in place. Many invasive techniques are not covered by such protocols.
Research in which participants’ personal viewpoints, attitudes or beliefs are collected and participants are identifiable; or where sensitive questions are asked that could lead participants to have strong reactions, either in the long or short term; or where private information is collected.
Certain types of research involving vulnerable groups or children where private information is not being collected and the topic is not sensitive. Such research should be unlikely to influence or affect the participants physically, socially, psychologically or spiritually. Examples could include asking people with intellectual disability for their views on a new product being developed for people with their condition, or asking children about an educational programme.
Research which requires some inconvenience or minimal time commitment from participants rather than extensive burdens or time commitments.
This category may be suitable for some, but not all, research projects involving participants in a dependant relationship with the researcher, such as professionals and patients; supervisors and employees; educators and students. Due account must be taken of how potential conflicts of interest will be addressed. The nature of the relationship, or the level of risk, may require that some projects of this type have full committee review.
Projects involving deception of the form that participants are not given a complete list of the objectives in a direct and straightforward manner, such as research requiring that the subject be naïve to some aspects of the research so that their participation can be as authentic as possible.
Research involving previously collected human tissues which are no longer identified but for which consent for research was not originally obtained.

Full committee review is intended for research that involves risks to participants which are greater than those found in everyday life. These may be of a physiological, psychological or social nature. Most projects involving vulnerable groups of participants will be included here.

Please note that any new study involving animal subjects must undergo full committee review. Applicants should contact the Bio-Resource Advisory Group (brag@dcu.ie) in the first instance, as there is an internal review meeting to be undertaken with them before any application is submitted to REC.

Examples of projects in this category include:

Physically invasive research other than projects involving pre-approved techniques that follow standardised protocols.
Research using qualitative methods to investigate highly sensitive topics or those likely to illicit highly personal information, such as those involving significant relationships, suicide, trauma, sexuality or potentially unethical or illegal behaviour. Topics at risk of leading to stigmatisation or discrimination are also included here.
Research involving vulnerable groups where the participants are placed at higher than everyday risk. Such research requires careful ethical evaluation as increased vulnerability sometimes increases the risk of harm to participants or generates additional types of harm. However, precise definitions of vulnerability are not universally agreed and research involving vulnerable groups raises different degrees of risk. For example, a project asking abuse survivors about their experience of abuse raises different levels of risk compared to asking the same people about issues unrelated to abuse. Such factors should be discussed clearly in the REC application.
Research where the information obtained may have immediate and/or long-term legal, economic or social consequences for participants.
Projects with a strong likelihood of identifying illegal activities, even if those committing such acts cannot be identified (such as some internet-based research).
Research projects where participants are in a dependant relationship with the researcher and where the research process or its findings may negatively impact the participants.
Projects involving surveillance and recording of people without their consent.
Projects involving inducements or payments to participate that go beyond travel reimbursement or small expressions of gratitude. The concern is that these could be seen as enticing some people to accept greater risks then they might otherwise be willing to accept.
Projects involving deception of the form where participants are provided false or misleading information; or where participants might experience guilt or other distress when the true nature of the research is revealed; or where the research topic is sensitive or the participants vulnerable.
Projects that put participants or researchers in harm’s way.
Research involving children that might provoke psychological discomfort or distress. Researchers working with children should be aware of child protection guidelines and conduct research involving children to the highest ethical standards. Children protection guidelines in relation to research were published in April 2012 and should be complied with. Researchers involving children should remain current in their knowledge of such responsibilities.
Research involving other participants who cannot give full consent themselves, such as people with some types of intellectual disabilities, or patients who are not competent to consent.
Research involving the collection of human tissues for research purposes. Research involving ethically controversial tissues such as human embryos, human foetuses or tissues from aborted human foetuses

Amending your approved research project

After receiving initial REC approval, if you need to make any changes to your approved research project these must be submitted for review and approval. The REC amendment form is available via the REC Forms - Applications, Templates and Amendments section of the Research Ethics Application Portal. Completed forms must be submitted via the Submit REC Amendment Form section of the portal and can be reviewed outside of the scheduled REC meeting dates.

Breach of Ethics

Principal Investigator(s)/Researcher(s) are encouraged to contact the University Research Ethics Committee (REC) if they discover a breach of ethics has taken place. However, it is possible that an allegation regarding a breach may be brought to the attention of the REC by a third party. The REC have put the following procedure in place to manage a breach of ethics.

Procedure for the Management of a Breach of Ethics477.8 KB

Ethics Resources & Guidelines

DCU REC Guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research

Please read the guidance document on the use of AI in research before completing the self-assessment form on the use of AI in research.

DCU REC Guidance on the use of AI in research

DCU REC Guiding Questions for Self-Assessment on Use of AI in Research

DCU REC Guiding Questions Form for Self-Assessment on use of AI in research39.46 KB

DCU Resources for Conducting Research Online

The DCU Data Protection Unit (DPU) has provided specific guidance for the use of Zoom for research, which can be found here.

If you are using Zoom within your research you should have an understanding and familiarity with all the security settings and meeting functions that you plan to use. For instance, knowing how to set a meeting password, how to create breakout rooms, how to make sure that screen sharing is only enabled for hosts, how to stop participants from chatting privately to each other (removing risk of cyber-bullying during sessions), etc. In addition, researchers should ensure that all participants and researchers conduct Zoom meetings/sessions in an appropriate setting (not in a café or in general public spaces).

Researchers will need to formulate a protocol when conducting research online, which should detail all of the safeguards that will be put in place to protect participants and researchers. This online protocol should be included in your REC application form (initial application) or REC amendment form (if amending your previously approved research project).

Some of the most common questions researchers ask about Zoom can be found in the file below.

Resources for moving research online60.29 KB

Obtaining Consent Online145.9 KB

Guidance for obtaining consent online

If researchers are planning on obtaining consent from participants online or planning on asking participants to send signed consent forms via electronic means, the following should be considered. In cases where researchers are seeking consent from users online, participants will need to be provided with an online version of the Plain Language Statement (PLS) followed by an online consent form (both the PLS and consent form can be embedded online). Researchers will be required to provide a separate tick box for each statement/clause that the participant is being asked to consent to/acknowledge. Each statement/clause must be included as an essential field in order to ensure that full informed consent has been obtained. Please see the example below:

I have read the Plain Language Statement (or had it read to me)

yes

no

I understand the information provided

yes

no

I have had an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the study

yes

no

I understand the information provided in relation to data protection

yes

no

I have received satisfactory answers to all my questions

yes

no

I understand I may withdraw from the Research Study at any point

yes

no

I have read and understand the arrangements to be made to protect confidentiality of data, inlcuding that confidentiality of information provided is subject to legal limitations

yes

no

I have read and understand confirmation relating to any other relevant information as indicated in the PLS

yes

no

I consent to participate in this research study

yes

no

If researchers are planning on obtaining consent remotely and require participants to send handsigned consent forms by electronic means, the following should be considered. The signed consent form would be considered personal data. If the researcher is receiving personal data by email the Data Protection Unit (DPU) recommend that researchers advise the participant to password protect the file before attaching and sending. The researcher should not receive this password by email, it should be sent via a different method (for example, verbally via phone). When received, the researcher should save a copy of the email and the attachment to a secure storage location (e.g. a restricted-access folder on the DCU network or DCU Google Drive). The process of sending and receiving emails should be documented by the researcher in a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), to ensure compliance with accountability and transparency requirements under GDPR, ensuring all members of the research team understand and follow the same process.

Guidance for obtaining consent online - August 2020

The Data Protection Unit has requested that where, as part of your research, you intend to conduct online surveys that you:

a) firstly take and complete the online data protection course that available on Loop for students, or via HRs Essential eLearning web page if you are a member of staff;

b) conduct the survey on an anonymous basis (if possible); &

c) create the survey form using Qualtrics if your School or Research Unit has a Qualtrics Licence (contact your School / Research Unit's Admin Office). If your School or Research Unit does not have a Qualtrics licence then you may use Google Forms (available to all DCU Staff & Students as part of their DCU Google suite) but you should only do so after applying the guidance at this link.

REC Guidelines on the Use of Compensation and Incentives

DCU REC offers the following guidelines with respect to decisions concerning the use of compensation and/or incentives for research participants. The guiding principle of such guidelines is to ensure that participants consent voluntarily to research participation and that they are not coerced or unduly influenced or pressurised into participation.

Compensation

Researchers may offer compensation for reasonable expenses that entails no net benefit to recipients (e.g. costs of travel, accommodation, meals).
Compensation should preferably be made in the form of vouchers
Compensation should be based on the inconveniences of the study and not the risk involved.
Compensation should be scheduled on a per visit basis and should not be dependent on completion of the study.
Procedures for the tracking of participants’ receipts and reimbursements made to them must be described.
Students participating in research should not be compensated through the provision of course credits or other academic benefits.
No compensation may be made to research participants for the donation of biological material, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Irish Council for Bioethics.

Payment

For the most part, the use of payment, or incentives, to recruit and retain research participants is innocuous. It becomes problematic where:

the subject is in a dependency relationship with the researcher
the risks are particularly high
the research is degrading
the participant will only consent if the incentive is large enough to overcome their aversion to participation

Where researchers have decided to offer incentives to participants, they must demonstrate that the use of incentives does not constitute “undue influence” or a coercive inducement to participate, AND, that the use of incentives does not compromise the dignity of the subject.

The following principles should be used to guide ethical use of incentives:

Payment should not be overly attractive. An overly attractive payment may compromise participant voluntariness, distort their ability to assess research risks and benefits, or “force” them to make choices against their “better judgment or deeply held beliefs”. It may also encourage potential and/or actual participants to withhold or misrepresent information in order to meet the criteria for inclusion in the research.
The minimum hourly wage is a good benchmark for participant payment
The use of the words “payment”, “inducements” or “reward” should not be used in information leaflets or consent forms. Instead, the terms “expenses” and “compensation” should be used.

Researchers should consult the following reading material to support their decisions concerning compensation and payment of research participants:

Różyńska, J. (2022). The ethical anatomy of payment for research participants. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 25(3), 449-464.
Grant, R. W. (2015). Rethinking the ethics of incentives. Journal of Economic Methodology, 22(3), 354-372.
Grant, R. and Sugarman, J. (2004) Ethics in human subjects research: do incentives matter? Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 29 (6), 717-738.
Declaration of Helsinki (2004), CIOMS (2002), Belmont Report (1979).

The final decision to allow compensation or reimbursement to research subjects rests with REC.

REC Guidelines on Conducting Research Abroad

DCU REC Guidelines on conducting Research Outside Ireland (2017)

REC Guidelines on Insider Research

InsiderResearch_V1 Dec 2017.pdf155.89 KB

Research Involving Children & Child Protection Requirements

Other Ethics Resources and Guidelines for Specific Research Topics

European Textbook on Ethics in Research (2010, pdf.)

DOHC (Irish Council for Bioethics) Report 2005 - considerations and recommendations on the collection, use and storage of human biological material in research

Internet research and Social Media Data in Research - section 3.3, EC guidelines (2018) Ethics in Social Sciences and Humanities
UK Research Integrity Office (2016) Guidance Note on Good Practice in Internet-Mediated Research
Felzmann H. (2013) Ethical Issues in Internet Research: International Good Practice and Irish Research Ethics Documents. IN: Internet Research, Theory and Practice: Perspectives from Ireland. Cathy Fowley et al. (pdf)
British Pyschological Society (2013) Ethics Guidelines for Internet-mediated Research. INF206/1.2013. Leicester: Author. (pdf)
AOIR (Association of Internet Researchers) Ethics Working Committee: Ethical Decision-Making and Internet Research

EC guidelines on Ethics in Social Science and Humanities

Applying for Ethical Approval

Undergraduate and Taught Masters research projects

All Undergraduate and Taught Masters research projects are reviewed at local School level. Students should liaise with their supervisors regarding this process. Please refer to the following documents:

Faculty Research Ethics Committees - low-risk research ethics applications

All Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) low-risk research ethics applications from academic staff, research masters and PhD students are reviewed and approved by the FHSS F-REC (except those that involve cross-Faculty research). Please refer to the FHSS F-REC webpage for further details.

Research projects that cannot be reviewed locally (see above) must apply for ethical approval via the DCU REC. Applicants submit the REC application form and associated documentation to REC via the Research Ethics Application Portal on Loop. Please follow the submission guidelines on the form. If there are any issues experienced when submitting application forms via the portal, researchers should email rec@dcu.ie. Please refer to the current Calendar of REC Meetings below for details on submission deadlines.

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The level of ethical review required will be dependent on a combination of risk assessment, the specific population to be researched, and the research methods to be used. The researcher, supervisor and research team (as applicable) should carry out an ethical assessment of their project to determine the appropriate level. Advice on this can be sought in advance of submission via rec@dcu.ie. You will be required to provide a brief justification for the final decision reached within your REC application, and this will be evaluated as part of the review. Guidelines on level of review are provided in a previous section - examples are provided in each category, but these are not an exhaustive list of the projects falling into each category.
Ensure that the application is fully completed with all supplementary materials included (recruitment materials, participant information sheet, informed consent, permission letters, etc. Incomplete applications will be not be reviewed, but will be returned for completion, which will delay their review. Avoid using technical jargon and insider terminology, as REC members come from various academic and non-academic backgrounds.
Ensure that the entire application, but especially the materials intended for distribution to participants, are free of spelling and grammar errors, and proofread for readability, clarity and accuracy.

REC Forms - Applications, Templates and Amendments

Please note that there is one DCU REC application form used for all levels of ethics review for research projects involving human participants.

If your research involves biological agents or materials (e.g. biological or clinical samples, viruses, bacterial strains, mammalian cells, animal models, biotoxins, prions, GMOs/micro organisms etc.) it will require approval from the Biological Safety Committee - this approval should be in place prior to REC submission. Please refer to the BSC submission forms and associated documentation on the Faculty webpage.

For research with animal subjects, all HPRA applicants must contact the Bio-Resource Advisory Group (BRAG) in the first instance, as there is an internal review meeting to be undertaken with them before any application involving animal subjects can be submitted to the REC. All details and forms available from the BRAG Chair - brag@dcu.ie

DCU REC Application Form - Updated August 202469.49 KB

DCU REC Template - Participant Information Sheet - Updated August 202452 KB

DCU REC Template - Informed Consent Form - Updated August 202334.5 KB

DCU REC Example - Child Participant Information Sheet - Updated August 2024390.85 KB

DCU REC Example - Child Assent Form93.56 KB

DCU REC - Justification of Blood Sampling Form50.5 KB

DCU REC Amendment Application Form81.5 KB

DCU REC Submission & Approval Timeline

Preparation

If required, researchers can avail of the Research Ethics Support Clinics with the REC Chair (contact rec@dcu.ie for details) to discuss the specific ethical context of their research and receive guidance where appropriate. The researcher should review the REC meeting calendar and identify the meeting date and corresponding submission deadline that they wish to apply for. Best practice is to build in a sufficient time period between the meeting date and the anticipated start date for data collection, in order to facilitate any post review actions that are required prior to approval being granted.

The researcher then identifies the level of review required (notification, expedited, full committee), writes the application form and all other associated documentation. The REC application form, Plain Language Statement and Informed Consent Form templates can be found here. Applicants should ensure that they are using the most current version of the REC application form.

Submission

The researcher submits their REC application form and associated documentation via the Research Ethics Application Portal on Loop. The applicant receives automatic confirmation via email that their application has been submitted.

Triage

Applications are triaged to ensure that the current version of the REC application form has been used, that the form is complete and accurate, and that the level of review required is appropriate. Application forms are disseminated to REC members in advance of the REC meeting.

Review

The REC reviews applications during the REC meeting. The outcome of the review is usually provided to researchers within 5 working days of the REC meeting. Applicants should therefore refrain from enquiring about their application status until after this five-day period has elapsed.

REC Outcome/Decision

Following review, the REC may approve the application, require further clarification(s) or require resubmission (decline). If further clarification(s) are required, these are sent to the researcher via email. In order to facilitate all reviews within the review cycle of the meeting, applicants are required to respond to REC within 7 working days. If applicants exceed this deadline, review of these responses by REC may be pushed to the next review cycle (after the subsequent REC meeting). The REC will only issue formal approval once all REC comments have been clarified by the applicant.

Amending Approved Research