Ethics

How to Navigate this Website 

There are sub-pages on the left-hand side of this page. Please click on the relevant sub-page for submission guidelines and closing dates for each type of research ethics application. The last sub-page provides templates and resources to assist the researchers in preparing their research ethics applications. 

Please refer to this brief guide on how to prepare & submit a successful research ethics application: Guide to a Successful Research Ethics Application

COVID-19: Guidance for Researchers & Sponsors

 Please find below guidance from the NSW Office for Health and Medical Research (OHMR) and the Commonwealth Department of Health for conducting clinical trials and other relevant clinical research affected by the COVID-19 situation.

NSW OHMR Guidance: https://www.medicalresearch.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-clinical-trial-guidance/

The Commonwealth Department of Health Guidance: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Clinical-Trials

Please note that the SCHN Research Ethics and Research Governance Offices will operate based on these guidelines.

Please also note that we are prioritising applications and correspondence related to COVID-19 that are critical to patient safety. We endeavour to manage all other applications and correspondence as per standard timelines; however there may be some delays depending on volume.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Contact details for enquiries
SCHN Research Ethics: SCHN-ethics@health.nsw.gov.au
SCHN Research Governance: SCHN-Governance@health.nsw.gov.au

Information about the SCHN HREC

The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee (SCHN HREC) is responsible for ensuring ethical and scientific acceptability of human research conducted at sites within the SCHN and for paediatric specific research referred by any Public Health Organisation from NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA and WA as part of the National Mutual Acceptance of scientific and ethical review of multi-centre human research.

Human research is research conducted with or about people, or their data or tissue.

In addition to ethical approval, Site Specific Authorisation (SSA) from the Research Governance Office of each site is required before a research project can commence at that site. For further information regarding the process for obtaining SSA, please contact the Research Governance Office at the relevant sites.

The SCHN HREC operates in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) including all updates. For more information about the SCHN HREC, please refer to the following documents:

• SCHN HREC Terms of Reference
• SCHN HREC Standard Operating Procedure
• SCHN HREC United States IRB & FWA Registration Details

Fee schedule

Please note that the following fee schedule applies for commercially sponsored or investigator-initiated with industry funding and collaborative group sponsored or funded research projects. This fee will be applied to all applications excluding Early Phase Clinical Trials, and may also be applied to some amendments. For the SCHN HREC's fee structure for Early Phase Clinical Trials (EPCT), please refer to the EPCT Submission Guidelines available via this link.

Please contact the Research Ethics Office if you are unsure of whether a fee is applicable to your application.