Research Ethics and Governance

Introduction and Relationship Between Research Ethics, Governance and Good Research Practice

In recent years the way that research is conducted has come under scrutiny from the general public, the media, government and major funding bodies. While the UK research community remains largely self regulated, individuals planning research should take into account various pieces of legislation, policy and governance frameworks.

These include:

• The University of Sheffield Good Research Practice Standards
• Department of Health Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care Research
• The Data Protection Act
• The European Commission Clinical Trials Directive
• Professional guidelines
• Funding body guidelines e.g MRC. BBSRC (see useful links page)

The Department of Health has formalised its requirements for the management of research in their Research Governance Framework and the University has developed its own 'Good Research Practice Standards'.

At the Univeristy of Sheffield, the Department of Health Research Governance Framework applies to all 'healthcare research' and the University Good Research Practice Standards apply to all staff and student research. While these frameworks cover wider issues, they both require high standards of research ethics.

The University Research Ethics Policy applies to all research, both staff and student, involving human participants, their data and tissue. Good research ethics involves putting the physical and psychological welfare of the research participants before the interests of sicence or society.

The remainder of this website is designed to help researchers in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Science comply with both the University´s and the Department of Health's research ethics and governance requirements.