Research Ethics and Integrity The Human Sciences Research Council is committed to research that is relevant and trustworthy. The pursuit of research excellence and the fulfilment of our responsibilities to participants in research, research users, funders, and the wider community require high standards of integrity. To this effect, the HSRC Board approved a formal policy on research integrity. • HSRC Research Integrity Policy (PDF) This policy is intended to help promote and support good research practice, but also touches on aspects of research misconduct that should not be allowed. The policy furthermore provides for the appointment of a Research Integrity Officer (RIO) by the CEO. Research Ethics Committee Most HSRC research involves human participants. The bulk of the information and data gathered is likely to be of a personal nature. Researchers and the research leadership in the HSRC are fully aware of ethical considerations related to research with human participants, and these concerns are built into the planning and review processes of all research proposals. The performance, execution, and completion of research projects are also carefully monitored to make sure that HSRC researchers and all project collaborators adhere to the highest ethical standards. The HSRC Board members and employees commit themselves to a code of ethical behaviour that accords with the HSRC's status, values, principles, and obligations. The HSRC Research Ethics Committee (REC) was established on 27 November 2002. The HSRC REC is registered with the South African National Health Research Ethics Council of the SA National Department of Health (NHREC No 290808-015) and also has US OHRP Federal-wide Assurance (FWA) accreditation (FWA 00006347, IRB No. 00003962). From 2003, all HSRC researchers have been required to submit all research applications for REC approval before commencement of research. Ethics approval is given to project proposals for a period of a year, after which the PI must apply for a renewal/recertification. Exemptions from ethics review must be applied for in advance if studies meet the criteria for exemption, for example, reviews and analyses of data or materials that are freely available in the public domain, and conference commissions (except where they involve primary research). Provided there is no more suitable or eligible REC in South Africa, and subject to terms and conditions, including an administration fee, the HSRC REC may conduct an ethics review of research proposals submitted by researchers not employed by or contracted to the HSRC. Although all research with human participants must be ethically approved before data collection commences, the REC has processes in place to expedite the approval of certain types of research if justified by the applicant. Research that constitutes an extension of a study already approved by the REC may qualify for a class approval under certain conditions. All amendments and changes to approved protocols must be approved by the REC before they are implemented. All South African clinical trials must be registered with the South African National Clinical Trials Register (SANCTR). Given the HSRC REC’s registration with the NHREC, investigators responsible for clinical trials reviewed and approved by the REC are required to register such trials with the SANCTR.
Term of Office from 01 November 2024 until 31 October 2027. The following document contains the internal and external HSRC Ethics Committee membership list
Responsibilities The following responsibilities are entrusted to the RIOs for the 2025 calendar year: • Promoting the responsible conduct of research through awareness raising and capacity building activities, in collaboration with relevant resource persons as well as research and support units in the HSRC • Ensuring that there are procedures and systems in place to receive, appropriately assess and correctly refer allegations of research misconduct • Taking responsibility for record-keeping and reporting of possible cases of research misconduct as may be required by the HSRC as well as local and international funders, including the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America • Ensuring that confidential information made available to the RIO is treated with discretion and in accordance with the principles outlined in the policy on research integrity Contact Research integrity officers Khutso Sithole, tel +27 (0)66 006 4886 Email: research.integrity@hsrc.ac.za Ethics Hotline The HSRC is committed to fraud prevention. If you're aware of any suspicious activity, take either of the below actions. Your contribution will remain anonymous. Free Call number - Fraud Hotline: 0800 205 138 Free Call number - Research Ethics Hotline: 0800 212 123 SMS: 30916 Email: hsrc@thehotline.co.za Website: www.thehotline.co.za
