Es

1. Ethical clearance for
Research
at
Zayed University
March 2010
Brigitte Howarth: Chair ZU Committee on the use of Human Subjects in Research
Janet Martin: Office of Research

2. How do you feel about “ethical
clearance”?

3. January 29 2010
“acted dishonestly
and irresponsibly in
carrying out
research on
children against
their best interests
and without official
permission”

4. January 29 2010
“did not have the
ethical approval or
qualifications to
oversee the study,
which involved
children undergoing
colonoscopies,
lumbar punctures,
barium meals and
brain scans.”

5. January 29 2010
“he received 55,000
UKP to carry out the
research on behalf of
solicitors acting for
parents who believed
that their children had
been harmed by
MMR… He did not
declare any conflict of
interest to the Lancet
medical journal.”

6. January 29 2010
“The study prompted
a massive drop in the
number of children
being vaccinated
against measles,
mumps and rubella.
Subsequent studies
involving millions of
children found no
evidence of a link
between MMR and
autism.”

7. UN apology after flawed climate study
Times Online January 21, 2010

8. 21 January 2010
“The IPPC said
that the
prediction in its
landmark 2007
report was
‘poorly
substantiated’
and resulted
from a lapse in
standards”

9. 21 January 2010
“The UN’s top
climate change
body issued an
unprecedented
apology
yesterday over
its flawed
prediction that
Himalayan
glaciers were
likely to
disappear by
2035.”

10. ZU investigators would know all about ethical
clearance …
… this is straightforward stuff that
hardly needs to be covered!
“I’m only doing a pilot
study”

11. ZU investigators would know all about ethical
clearance …
… this is straightforward stuff that
hardly needs to be covered!
“I don’t need clearance
because I’m only surveying
ZU students”

12. ZU investigators would know all about ethical
clearance …
… this is straightforward stuff that
hardly needs to be covered!
“my supervisor said that
not to worry. It’s ok.”

13. ZU investigators would know all about ethical
clearance …
… this is straightforward stuff that
hardly needs to be covered!
“I already have ethical
clearance from another
collaborative institution”

14. ZU investigators would know all about ethical
clearance …
… this is straightforward stuff that
hardly needs to be covered!
“I received my research
grant before this ethics
committee got going”

15. Recent examples from faculty have assisted the Committee
in determining what is not recommended for the quality of
ethics consideration at ZU:
Obtaining informed consent:
“a relevant statement will be included in the
instructions given prior to data collection”
“Questionnaire aimed to know your opinion on
the [subject] in terms of the level of
satisfaction, as well as in terms of information
and since I … would like to know”

16. So what is
“ethical
clearance”
all about?

17. Ethical clearance is part of
Research Integrity:
This embodies a range of good research practice and
conduct which can include
•intellectual honesty
•accuracy
•fairness
•intellectual property
•protection of human and animal subjects involved
in the conduct of research.
Responsibilities for research integrity are shared by
individual researchers and the institution.

18. Ethical clearance in Research
The ‘Belmont’ ethical principles are to ensure:
• Respect for persons (the research consent process
ensures autonomy for individuals – “informed”
consent, confidentiality of data etc)
• Beneficence (the intention to do no harm – to
maximize possible benefits and minimize possible risks
to people involved in research)
• Justice (fairness in distribution of research inclusion
and exclusion)

19. What should we do about
understanding ethical
clearance
in research?

21. Change is
happening at
ZU

23. http://www.zu.ac.ae/research/aspx/ResearchIntegrity.aspx
New procedures and forms mean that you will need:
1.Criteria for referral of Proposed research
2.Application for Research Ethical Approval
3.Checklist and Coversheet
4.Informed Consent of Human Subjects

24. Who is your Research Ethics Committee?
Dr. Brigitte Howarth (Chair)
Dr. Eric Breton
Dr. Usama AlAlami
Dr. Gaelle Duthler
Dr. Sharon Parker
Dr. Grant Regan (ex-officio for ICE)
Dr. Chet Jablonski
Janet Martin (ex-officio for the Office of Research)
External representative (yet to appoint)

25. Recent feedback from faculty:
Considering the Committee responses:
“…don’t you and your committee think that I will be able to
present a professional research study”
“This is not the first time I’m working on research that requires
ethical clearance…. You are underestimating my skills and
potential as a researcher openly and very rudely.”
“I am a highly educated person, and I don’t need another person
to speak to me about conducting research professionally.”
“I should have received a quick reply from you”

26. Recent feedback from faculty:
Considering the Committee responses:
“Thank you very much for your prompt reply and considerations.
I greatly appreciate it!”
“Thank you very much to the Committee for processing my
application in such an efficient manner.”
“I do hope this clarifies some of our statements and I thank you
again for your valuable help.”
“Thanks for this feedback, will make changes as recommended
and pre test.”

27. Ethical Training for Research
All faculty and students will soon have access to an
internationally recognized online training resource:
CITI: Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative
https://www.citiprogram.org
Committee members will also hopefully have access to SRA
certification from the US, such as
“Human Research Protections Certificate Program”

30. Contact information: research@zu.ac.ae