Ethics

The Research Ethics Committee (REC) Sligo University Hospital (SUH)

Role: The REC Sligo is charged with the responsibility of independently reviewing research studies to be conducted in the Sligo University Hospital catchment area.

Chairperson REC: Dr. Miriam O’Sullivan

Administration REC: Research & Education Foundation – office@ref-sligo.ie

Procedure for applying for ethical approval:

  • All submissions should be emailed to the REC administration.
  • For a submission to be discussed at a meeting it must be submitted before the deadline stated under ‘REC meeting schedule’.
  • Late submissions will be forward to next meeting.
  • Please note that the following are required for ALL applications:
     Completed application form, all questions on the application form must be completed.
     Completed checklist
     Study protocol/proposal
     Evidence of indemnity
     CV(s) of chief/principal investigator(s) (two pages only)

In addition depending on the type of study other documentation may need to be included in the submission:

  • GP/Consultant information letter (Gatekeeper)
  • Material that will be shared with the prospective participant
  • Research Participant Information Leaflet (PIL)
  • Research Participant Consent Form
  • Research Participant Assent Form
  • Letter of Invitation for participant
  • Cover letter on headed paper
  • Case Report Form
  • If the study involves a questionnaire:
    • Validated Questionnaire
    • Non-validated Questionnaire
    • Interview schedule
  • Any other written materials provided to the participant e.g. participant diary
  • Copies of recruitment material for research participants, e.g. posters, newspaper adverts, website where appropriate, a printed script for video or audio recordings
  • Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) scoring tool (XLSX / 263 KB)

Applications that are not accepted by the REC:

  • The research requiring ethical approval must not commence before approval is granted
  • The committee will not review studies that have already commenced or have been completed.
  • The committee will not review or grant approval retrospectively
  • The REC does not review Clinical Trials that fall under the European Communities (Clinical Trials on Medicinal Products for Human Use) Regulations 2004
  • Queries in relation to the new Health Research Regulations are to be directed to the Health Research Board (HRB)
  • Queries in relation to Health Research Consent Declarations may be directed to the REC
  • Please direct all GDPR queries directly to the relevant Data Protection Officer / Agency
REC meeting schedule
Research Ethics forms