Human Research Ethics Committee

Establishment of the Human Research Ethics Committee

The University of Adelaide Committee on the Ethics of Human Experimentation was established in accordance with a decision made by The University Council on 13.11.81. The Committee's title was changed to Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) on 26.6.97.

The HREC's primary role is to protect the welfare and the rights of participants in research. It must ensure the effective consent of research subjects to participation in a research project and that any risk which may be involved is acceptable.

Membership

The composition must comply with the requirements of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) , and may include additional members. The current membership is nine.

The composition of the HREC shall reflect different age groups.

A member of the HREC who is personally involved in an experiment before the HREC shall not take part in any decision about the project.

Conduct of the HREC

The HREC may invite or co-opt any person to attend or participate or both in any of its meetings. Such persons shall not be eligible to vote.

Functions

The HREC's primary functions are as set out below:

• apply the principles set out in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007);
• cooperate closely with the Australian Health Ethics Committee, a principal committee of the NHMRC;
• consider the ethical implications of all proposed research projects on humans and to determine whether or not they are acceptable on ethical grounds;
• provide for surveillance of research projects until completion so that the HREC may be satisfied that they continue to conform with approved ethical standards;
• maintain a record of all proposed research projects.