FAQ: Definitions
Co-ordinating InvestigatorLead HREC
Local Principal Investigator
Local HREC
Multi-centre Research
National Ethics Application Form (NEAF)
Public Health Organisation
Research Governance Officer
Single-site Research
Site
Site-Specific Assessment (SSA)
Co-ordinating Investigator
The investigator responsible for the overall coordination of a multi-centre research project, including the submission of a new application for ethical review by a lead HREC and the submission of all subsequent requests and notifications for the approved research project to the lead HREC.
Lead HREC
A Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) accredited by the NSW Department of Health to conduct the single ethical and scientific review of multi-centre research projects on behalf of all sites within the NSW public health system.
Local Principal Investigator
The investigator at each site responsible for the conduct of the research project at that site.
Local HREC
The NSW Health Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) associated with a site at which a research project is to be conducted and which is responsible for the ethical review of single-site research at the site e.g. Hunter New England Area Health Service HREC is the local HREC for John Hunter Hospital, Maitland Hospital, Tamworth Base Hospital etc.
Multi-centre Research
Research to be conducted at more than one site within the NSW public health system and within the jurisdiction of more than one local HREC.
National Ethics Application Form (NEAF)
A web-based application form developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for the submission of research ethics proposals to Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs).
Public Health Organisation
An area health service or other statutory body, as defined under the Health Services Act 1997.
Research Governance Officer
The person at each site responsible for reviewing the SSA form and making a recommendation to the Chief Executive or their delegate, as to whether or not the research project should proceed at that site.
Single-site Research
Research to be conducted at one site only within the NSW public health system, or at two or more sites under the jurisdiction of a single NSW Health Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
Site
The location/s at which study-related activities are conducted. This may be a single public hospital, a collection of public hospitals within a defined area, or an entire area health service.
Site-Specific Assessment (SSA)
The mechanism used by public health organisations to determine the suitability of a research project to be conducted at a site, whether that project is multi-centre or single-site.