Ethical review
Information about ethical review and related committees at the Â鶹´«Ã½
Applying for ethical approval
There are different pathways to approval depending on your area of research.
The Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity Committees(FREICs), their applications forms and guidance will help you to understand what to include in your application and what issues need to be addressed. Please, find below the relevant section for your research.
The University Research Ethics and Integrity Committee (UREIC) has overall responsibility for the development, implementation and monitoring of research ethics and integrity policies, and has representatives from all FREIC committees. Professor Archie Clements is Chair of the Committee and is the University’s senior member of staff responsible for ethics and integrity.
For further information contact the UREIC Secretary
Dr John Martin
or the UREIC administrator Dee Champion.
Research with human participants
Contact your faculty committee administrator first (listed below) to inform them of your intention to submit an application. The ethical review forms and specific guidance can be found in the , with additional information linked below (requires University sign-in):
Research with NHS and social care subjects
Research with NHS and social care subjects is approved by the Health Research Authority (HRA).
- Apply through:
- For sign off of submissions to HRA please contact research.governance@plymouth.ac.uk
- To obtain information about Research Passports/Letters of Access see
- Be aware that the outcome of all HRA Approvals must be reported to the relevant University Faculty Ethics and Integrity Committee (listed below).
Research involving human tissue
The use of human tissue in research is covered by legislation for the storage and use of human tissue from the living, and the removal, storage and use of tissue from the deceased. The Â鶹´«Ã½ holds a corporate licence to store human tissue classed as under the Act, for research purposes only (not for human application).
All studies involving human tissue must be University sponsored and have received approval and the relevant Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity Committee notified. On expiry of ethical approval, any remaining samples are booked in and stored under licence.
(requires University sign-in).