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Ethical review of projects - research and innovation grants

The Foundation requires the research it funds to be conducted in an ethical manner and therefore expects all applicants for research grants to have given serious consideration to the ethics of their projects. This is especially so where the research involves children or other vulnerable groups. Particular ethical issues raised by a research project should always be discussed in an application.

The Trustees’ firm intention is that in the near future all research projects submitted to the Foundation involving human participants will be required to pass through independent ethical scrutiny. It will be the responsibility of the applicant to meet this requirement and the responsibility of the supporting institution first to make sure that appropriate provision for scrutiny is in place, and second to accept responsibility for the ethical conduct of the research.

The Trustees recognise, however, that different organisations are at different stages in developing the procedures for such review, and for the time being they are willing to adopt interim arrangements.

Where possible research projects should be considered by independent research ethics committees specifically constituted for the purpose. The Trustees expect that the larger research institutes and research active universities will already have such arrangements in place. In such cases applications should be accompanied by a signed declaration from a senior member of the organisation to the effect that such review has happened, or will happen, and that it accepts responsibility for the ethical conduct of the research.

Where such arrangements are not yet in place the Trustees are for the time being willing to consider alternative arrangements, for example on independent advisory committee convened specifically for the purpose. The key principles are first that there should be scrutiny independent of the researchers and their close colleagues, and second that the organisation in question should accept responsibility for the ethical conduct of the research.

Applicants are welcome to ask the Foundation staff for advice about their proposals.

Last Updated Fri, 28 March 2008