FAQ: Definitions
Access request review | Certified HREC | Co-ordinating Investigator | Human research | Lead HREC | Local HREC | Multi-centre research | NSW Health HREC | Principal Investigator | Public Health Organisation | Research Governance Officer | Single centre research | Site | Site Specific Assessment (SSA)Access request review
The mechanism used by NSW Public Health Organisations to ensure that the proposed research project complies with minimum governance requirements, and to consider whether to support the provision of access to participants, their tissue or data through the Public Health Organisation as requested by the project.
Certified HREC
An HREC that is hosted by an institution that has been certified by the National Health and Medical Research Council to participate in the national approach to single ethical review.
Co-ordinating Investigator
The individual who takes overall responsibility for the research project and submits the project for ethical and scientific review. The Co-ordinating Investigator is responsible for ongoing communication with the HREC and passing on any outcomes from this to the Principal Investigators. For single centre research, Co-ordinating Investigator and Principal Investigator are synonymous.
Human research
Lead HREC
A local HREC accredited by the Director-General of the NSW Ministry of Health to conduct ethical and scientific review of human research on behalf of the NSW public health system in the categories of: (a) clinical trials/interventional clinical research; and/or (b) general research.
Local HREC
An HREC established by a NSW Public Health Organisation to provide ethical and scientific review of human research to be conducted at sites under its control.
Multi-centre research
Research that is conducted at more than one site within the NSW public health system, where those sites are within the jurisdiction of more than one NSW Health HREC.
NSW Health HREC
A Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) established by a NSW Public Health Organisation and registered with the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Principal Investigator
The individual who takes responsibility for the overall conduct, management, monitoring and reporting of research conducted at a site and submits the research project for site authorisation.
Public Health Organisation
Research Governance Officer
The individual appointed within the NSW Public Health Organisation who is responsible for the management of applications for site authorisation and oversight of authorised research projects.
Single centre research
Research that is conducted at one site only within the NSW public health system (i.e. single-site research) or at two or more sites under the jurisdiction of a single NSW Health HREC.
Site
A facility, location or service where the research is being conducted.
Site Specific Assessment (SSA)
The mechanism used by NSW Public Health Organisations to ensure that the proposed research project complies with minimum governance requirements, and to consider whether the research should be conducted and supported at the proposed site.