University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee

• Reviewing, and where satisfied that it is appropriate, approving applications and amendments in accordance with the University’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Institutional Ethics Committees (IECs).
• Partnering with the University Ethics Team and faculty and Large-Scale Research Institute Ethics Advisors to provide advice and assistance regarding ethical principles to anyone undertaking such research.
• Receiving, recording, and responding to information concerning adverse events, queries, and complaints.
• Referring research integrity matters, such as the conduct of research without ethics approval, to the University’s Research Integrity Officer to be managed in accordance with the Research Integrity Policy.
• From time to time, conducting audits of approved projects to ensure that the research has been carried out according to the approval that was given.
• Seeking expert opinion when required from relevant committees and groups, such as the Health Research Council Ethics Committee (HRC EC), National Ethics Advisory Committee (NEAC) and University Māori Research Governance Group. However, the confidentiality of the proposal and details of the issue under appraisal must be protected.
• Referring ineligible research to the Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee (AHREC) or Health and Disability Ethics Committees (HDECs) as required. Studies at the intersection of health and technology (for example the development of Apps, web based resources, AI or emerging technologies) may be referred to AHREC at the discretion of the Ethics Team and the Chair of AHREC

• To ensure that eligible human participant research complies with the highest ethical standards.
• To protect the interests of participants, researchers and the University.
• To promote awareness within the University community of ethical issues relating to research with human participants.
• To provide an avenue for handling complaints or queries made by any interested person in relation to an ethical review process, ethics approval or research conducted without ethics approval.

Note:

1. Conflicts of Interest
   Committee members must declare any real or perceived conflicts of interest in line with the requirements of the University’s Conflicts of Interest Policy.
2. Confidentiality
   Committee members have a responsibility to treat all information with appropriate confidentiality. This includes matters tabled or discussed at the Committee meetings, as well as any additional issues that are raised outside meetings.

• One lay Chair (Lay)
• One non-lay Deputy Chair (Institutional)
• One nominee of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) (Institutional / Lay)
• One nominee of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Pacific) (Institutional / Lay)
• One member with expertise in the area of moral philosophy (Institutional/Lay)
• One member with legal expertise (Institutional/Lay)
• One student representative nominated by Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) Executive Committee and/or Postgraduate Students’ Association (PGSA) (Lay)
• Additional lay and non-lay members approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) to address the composition and experience requirements set out in the IEC SOPs (Institutional / Lay).

Relevant definitions are:

• ‘Eligible human participant research’ is defined as human participant research conducted by members of the University community that is not eligible for consideration by HDEC or AHREC.

University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee reports to Council annually, and at other times as requested by Council.