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Research Ethics Committees

Our Research Ethics Committees review and oversee the ethical aspects of our research projects and focus on reviewing applications for new projects and changes to existing studies.

Any research involving human participants must be referred to, and approved by, the relevant LSHTM Research Ethics Committee. This includes all research involving LSHTM staff or students regardless of whether the Chief Investigator is based at LSHTM or the research is being conducted away from LSHTM premises. The only exception are studies using data fully in the public domain. No study should commence until ethical approval has been notified in writing to the Investigator/student.

The Research Ethics Committees review and oversee the ethical aspects of LSHTM research projects, in particular reviewing applications for new projects and amendments to existing studies.

The Research Ethics Committees at LSHTM are:

Observational Research Ethics Committee – covering staff and research degree students’ observational studies. Correspondence and queries via ethics@lshtm.ac.uk

Interventions Research Ethics Committee – covering staff and research degree students’ interventions studies. Correspondence and queries via ethics@lshtm.ac.uk

Staff and research degree students should apply/report via ethics@lshtm.ac.uk . The Ethics Administrator will ensure applications/reports are submitted to the relevant Committee.

MSc Research Ethics Committee – covering MSc students’ research projects. Correspondence and queries via MScEthics@lshtm.ac.uk

Application/report documents for staff and research students

E1 Application form     Investigators must apply to the Committee to obtain ethical approval for a new research project using this form (Word document)

E2 Amendment form    Investigators must apply to the Committee to obtain ethical approval for an amendment to a research project with existing LSHTM ethical approval using this form (Word document)

E3 Annual Report form  (interventions studies only)  Investigators for interventions studies must report to the Committee annually using this form (Word document). Continuation of LSHTM ethical approval is contingent on the annual submission of this report for the duration of the project.

E4 Serious Adverse Events Report form    Investigators must report any serious adverse events concerning an ethically approved study using this form (Word document)

E5 End of Study Report form   Investigators must report the end of an ethically approved study using this form (Word document)

Please ensure you are using the most recent form template when applying/reporting to the Committee. All forms should be submitted electronically to ethics@lshtm.ac.uk (supporting documents should be appended as a single file and submitted electronically with the application/other form).

The committee is currently piloting a new review system whereby the committee will meet virtually each month to review projects.  Applications received by the end of the month will be reviewed by the 15th of the subsequent month (eg if submitted on 30 July, will be reviewed on 15 August).  Applications received after the closing date will be reviewed the following month (eg if submitted on 1 August, will be reviewed 15 September).  This system is similar to many ethics committees around the world and also provides a firmer date for when to expect a reply by the committee.

Amendments 

The committee reviews amendments twice monthly. Applications received between the 1st and the 15th of the month will be reviewed by the 1st of the following month (eg if submitted between 1st and 15th July, will be reviewed by 1st August). Applications received between the 16th and 31st of the month, will be reviewed by the 15th of the following month (eg if submitted between 16th and 31st July, will be reviewed by 15th August). 

Application documents for MSc students

MSc students apply for ethical approval for projects using CARE forms. Completed forms should be submitted to MScEthics@lshtm.ac.uk.

For the generic CARE form template, guidance on completing the form and submission deadlines as well as other materials please visit the student form pages.

Useful links:

In preparing your application you might find it useful to refer to:

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