Ethics Committees
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Animal Research Ethics Committee (AREC)
All research and teaching activities involving animals under the auspices of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg requires ethics clearance from the AREC.
How to Apply?
- Coronavirus And Ethics Committee Work 2020
- A new online Ethics Management System (EMS) with Ethics User Guide is available on link: https://www.witsethics.co.za/Login.aspx
- Applicants can self-register, save, download, and submit their online ethic applications for approval to the various ethics committees
- The Applicant is requested to submit ONE (1) hard copy of the online application form after submitting online to the office of the Secretariat: Room 10 004, 10th Floor, Solomon Mahlangu House, East Campus. See documents to download below
- It is very important that you first read the Guidelines for completion of applications to Animal Research Ethics Committee
- Applicants seeking information on the Animal Research Ethics can email to Dept-Secretary-AREC@wits.ac.za or Shaun.Schoeman@wits.ac.za - 011 717 1408 or Charmaine.khumalo@wits.ac.za - 011 717 1788
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In addition to the online application, you are requested to submit one signed hardcopy of the online application and supporting documents to the Research Office, Solomon Mahlangu House, 10th floor, room 10004. Please note that your application will not be reviewed if the signed hardcopy of your application and supporting documents are not submitted
Downloads:
- AREC SUBMISSION DATES AND MEETING DATES FOR 2020
- Guidelines for animal use at Wits 2015.doc
- Application for approval to undertake a sugical training course using animals
- Application for modification to existing animal ethics approval
- Planning studies or teaching activities
- Guidelines for studies at more than one institution
- SA National Standard on the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes
- GUIDELINE FOR AUTHORISATION
- SAVC APPLICATION 2018
- SAVC_Employee Employer Supervision Agreement
- SAVC - Table of Approved Protocols
- FR-SL.I004_study log index
- 1 FR-SL.FC001_study log front cover
- 2 SOP-G.FR001_guidelines for filling form records
- 3 FR-SL.SR002_study record
- 4 FR-SL.WR003_weight recordsheet
- 5 FR-SL.WM002B_welfare monitoring CatB group
- 5 FR-SL.WM003C_welfare monitoring CatC group
- 5 FR-SL.WS008_welfare scoresheet
- 6 FR-SL.SS007_study summary
- 7 R-VR.SP002 sedation and preparation
- 8 R-VR.DL004_drug list
- 9 R-VR.PA003_procedure and anaesthetic
- 12 FR-SL.RS006 record of signatures
- 13 R-VR.TL006 treatment record
- 14 R-VR.HN001_history and necropsy
- 15 FR-SL.TR010_training compitence register
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Biobanks Ethics Committee
Reviews all applications for the establishment of biobanks and to make recommendations to the HREC; and to review all research using tissue samples and / or associated data from approved biobanks and make recommendations to the HREC.
How to apply?
For enquiries regarding progress or outcome of ethics application contact the Research Administrator – Ms Zanele Ndlovu, Mr Rhulani Mkansi HREC-Medical.ResearchOffice@wits.ac.za – 011 717 1252/2700/1234/2656
Form:
- Coronavirus And Ethics Committee Work 2020
- For collection, storage or transfer of biological samples and data at an approved Biobank. NB parallel submission to BEC2 and HREC (Medical) ethics application allowed.
Guidelines and Policies
Downloads
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Clinical Drug Trials
How to apply?
Application forms may be downloaded from http://www.witshealth.co.za by clicking on Ethics. In the latter case, a fee is payable.
Contact:
Admin Supervisor
Jennifer Bryce-Borthwick
Tel: (011) 274-9278
E Mail: jbryce@witshealth.co.za
Ethics Administrator
Augustina Hennessy
Tel: (011) 274-9279
E Mail: ahennessy@witshealth.co.za
Ethics Administrator
Eric Moso
Tel: (011) 274-9280
E Mail: emoso@witshealth.co.za -
Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical)
All research activities under the auspices of the University of the Witwatersrand requires ethics clearance for research involving human participants. The rule of thumb is that any staff or students from the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) must submit an application for ethics clearance to the HREC (Medical) if the research involves any human participants. If the proposed reseach is done at a medical facility (hospital or clinic, etc.) with/out medical professionals then an application for ethics clearance must be submitted to the HREC (Medical).
New full applications must be submitted online follow link:https://www.witsethics.co.za/Login.aspx
The following categories will remain paper based: renewals, annual recertifications, progress reports, protocol violations, protocol amendments, case reports, ethics waivers,substudies, lab study, urgent communicable diseases outbreaks and reciprocal studies approved by other primary universities.
Submit two hardcopies to - Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, Phillip Tobias Building, Offices 301-304, 3rd Floor, Cnr York Road and 29 Princess of Wales Terrace, Parktown, 2193.
For enquiries regarding progress or outcome of ethics application contact the Research Administrator – Mr Rhulani Mkansi Rhulani.Mkansi@wits.ac.za or Ms Zanele Ndlovu zanele.ndlovu@wits.ac.za – 011 717 1252/2700/1234/2656
How to apply?
Downloads
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Human Research Ethics Committee (Non-Medical)
All research activities under the auspices of the University of the Witwatersrand requires ethics clearance from the HREC (non-medical) if it involves humans participants; and if the research includes social, educational and/or psychological behaviour or perceptions, personal data required by an institution. This excludes research activities at a medical facility; e.g. hospitals, clinics, research labs, pharmacies, etc.
How to apply?
- Coronavirus And Ethics Committee Work 2020
- A new online Ethics Management System (EMS) with Ethics User Guide is available on link: https://www.witsethics.co.za/Login.aspx
- Applicants can self-register, save, download, and submit their online ethic applications for approval to the various ethics committees.
- The Applicant is requested to submit ONE (1) hard copy of the online application form after submitting online to the office of the Secretariat: Room 10 004, 10th Floor, Solomon Mahlangu House (formerly Senate House), East Campus. See documents to download below.
Please contact Shaun Schoeman, Shaun.Schoeman@wits.ac.za - 011717 1408 or Charmaine.khumalo@wits.ac.za - 011 717 1788 for queries.
In addition to the online application, you are requested to submit one signed hardcopy of the online application and supporting documents (i.e. proposal, participant information sheet(s), consent form(s), instruments and permission letters if applicable to your study) to the Research Office, Solomon Mahlangu House, 10th floor, room 10004. Please note that your application will not be reviewed if the signed hardcopy of your application and supporting documents are not submitted
Downloads
- HREC- (NON-MED) SUBMISSION DATES FOR 2021
- Guidelines for completion of applications to Human Ethics (Non-Medical) Committe
- Standard Operating Procedures SOP of the Human Research Ethics Committee
- Appeals form
- Ethics complaint structure
- Ethics complaints form
- Example of a Consent Form
- Example of a Participant Information Sheet
- Example of letter requesting permission
- Ethics handling of Honours and MRR projects(Coursework and Research Report)
- Permission letters
- Making a change to your ethics application after ethics clearance
- Risk Table (Jan 2021)
- Wits Research Integrity Guidlines & Procedures
- Wits Research Integrity Policy
- guidelines for research during COVID-19
- Progress report form (Jan 2021)
- Signature page when making a Non Medical ethics application
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Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
Biosafety is concerned with the containment methods required when managing parasites, infectious agents and infected or potentially infected animals, tissues or other materials. The purpose is to reduce exposure of laboratory workers, other persons and the outside environment, to potentially hazardous agents.
Four principles of biomedical ethics are generally recognised:- autonomy (respect for the person - a notion of human dignity
- beneficence (benefit to the research participant)
- non-maleficence (absence of harm to the participant)
- justice (notably distributive justice - equal distribution of risks and benefits between communities
Worker and public safety is of paramount concern. Workers must be adequately trained and provided with a working environment in which the necessary facilities and equipment are available. If this is done and the guidelines below are observed, risk to the general public will be minimised.
When considering research protocols, the Biosafety Committee is involved in various processes, including risk assessment, which would include, but not be limited to:
- concentration and quantity of organisms
- stability and viability of organism
- potential for transmission, by contact or aerosol
- nature of the work
- specific risks associated with genetically-modified organisms (GMO s)
- risk of harmful bi-products
- risk of unknown contaminants
Downloads
- Coronavirus And Ethics Committee Work 2020
- General Information
- Application for Laboratory Certification
- IBCAppFm
- Checklist IBCAppendix 1
- Model Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
- IBC – Committee Procedures
- Biosafety Level (BSL) checklist
- Application for Project Approval
- IBC Meeting and Submission Dates