Expedited Review: Human Ethics

In accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007, the following categories of research can be expedited and a response from MUHREC is usually provided to researchers within 2 weeks of receipt of:

• Low Risk proposals – where the foreseeable risk to participants is no more than one of discomfort.
  
• Multicentre proposals – that have already been fully reviewed and approved by another ethics committee.
  
• Amendments – changes to approved projects if these do not raise privacy concerns.

It is explicitly stated in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007 that projects involving the following must be considered by a full committee and therefore CANNOT be expedited:

• Randomisation and ‘blinding’ participants and researchers to the identity of agents being compared
  
• Interventions and therapies
  
• Human genetics and/or stem cells
  
• Women who are pregnant and the human foetus
  
• People highly dependent on medical care who may be unable to give consent
  
• People with a cognitive impairment, an intellectual disability, or a mental illness
  
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
  
• Research intended to study/expose illegal activity