Research governance on our terms

The IUIH Network Knowledge and Research Governance Committee (a Sub Committee of the IUIH Network CEO Forum) is responsible for research governance across the Network, ensuring that research practices reflect the collective values and priorities of Our peoples and Communities.

Every type of human research conducted at IUIH is assessed and governed by the Knowledge and Research Governance (KRGC) committee and must:

• undergo full ethics review
• commence only after ethical approval has been granted
• commence only after Knowledge and Research Governance Committee authorisation (institutional authorisation) has been granted
• be conducted in accordance with the ethical approval and institutional authorisation
• cease if ethical approval or institutional authorisation is suspended or withdrawn
• be subject to monitoring.

Approval

A human research project may only commence at IUIH if it holds both approval from a NHMRC registered Human Research Ethics Committees and KRGC authorisation. As we do not maintain our own HREC, all human research ethics projects are reviewed under the governance of an external institution, with evidence of approval provided to the KRGC as part of our institutional authorisation process.

These requirements apply to all research projects, regardless of scope or funding source.

Monitoring and reporting

All research authorised to be conducted at IUIH is monitored, regardless of the level of the risk. This is to ensure research:

• Meets ethical and regulatory requirements
• Aligns with Community priorities
• Upholds our protocols
• Is conducted responsibly, ethically, and in line with relevant authorisation and approvals.

Progress reports

• All Knowledge and Research Governance committee approved research projects must submit annual Progress Reports <embedded Microsoft form feeding to SharePoint> throughout the project. A copy of the HREC progress report can be used.
• All Knowledge and Research Governance committee approved research projects must submit a  Final Report <embedded Microsoft form feeding to SharePoint> within six months of completing the project. A copy of the final HREC report can be used.
• These reports must be submitted four (4) weeks prior to the Knowledge and Research Governance committee meeting

Amendments

• You may need to change aspects of your study or study documents after KRGC authorisation.
• Any changes to your study must first be approved by the HREC and then submitted for KRGC authorisation.
• Your amendment request should describe the changes and provide a rationale for the changes. The amendment request can be a standard letter.
• If a study document (e.g. Study Protocol or Participant Information Sheet) is changing, you must also provide a tracked and clean copy with updated version number and date.
• Amendment requests and supporting documents can be submitted to the Knowledge and Research Centre anytime via XX. <embedded Microsoft form linking to SharePoint>
• Amendments should not be submitted to the Knowledge and Research Centre until they have received HREC approval.
• You will receive a letter from the Knowledge and Research Centre with the decision and, if authorised, any conditions of authorisation.

You may not implement your changes until you have updated approval from both ethics and governance unless the changes are for URGENT safety measures.