Ethics and Compliance

 

All research studies in the institution are to be carried out in compliance with the following National University Hospital Administrative Policy:"Human Research Conduct and Protection (HRP) Policy", "Conflict of Interest in Conduct of Research Policy" and "Institutional Review Board Governance Policy". PIs who have been awarded grants must obtain approval from the relevant research compliance authority before research activities can start. 

 

However, PIs who wish to expedite the opening of a project account for purpose of research staff recruitment or procurement pending application/receipt of approvals from selected compliance offices may do so by providing the necessary declaration and undertakings.

 

The table below provides information on whether account activation can proceed pending application/receipt of the relevant research compliance approvals, for quick reference. PIs are encouraged to refer to their respective institution's Grant Endorsement Form and the websites of the respective Research Compliance Offices for further details or clarification. Kindly note that principal investigators whose primary appointment is in NUS should use the NUS grant endorsement form while Principal investigators whose primary appointment is in NUH should use the NUH grant endorsement.

 

Research Project Involves	Type of Research Compliance	Prior approval required before account activation?	Details
Laboratory-Based Research, Field Research, and/or Research involving Diving Activities	OSHE Risk Assessment	Mandatory for account activation	1. Laboratory based research projects are defined as those involving the use of chemicals, biological agents, radioactive materials/equipment, research animals, heavy machinery or high voltage equipment; more information pertaining to the safety and regulatory requirements of laboratory researchers can be found in the YLL SoM Safety Manual. 2. Non Laboratory based research projects are defined as those involving purely computational work or conduct of information surveys.   3. OSHE approval is necessary for all laboratory-based research. To apply , please submit your application to the Integrated Online  Research Compliance (iORC) system. 4. For PIs awarded certification to the Laboratory OHS certification scheme: Upon award of the certification, PIs need not submit individual project risk assessments for new grant-based projects.  However, PIs must notify OSHE of new projects and submit the following form(s) to OSHE to apply for approval for the release of funds for the new projects:   Form (OSH/PI/F02.02) – Grant release form for Laboratory OSH Certification Scheme     Form (OSH/PI/F03.02) – This form is to be submitted in addition to the form (OSH/PI/F02.02) if the new project involves animal work.   The forms are available on the following website here.
Human Subjects	IRB Approval DSRB Approval	Not necessary at point of account activation	Protocols involving Required Compliance Contact   All research involving use of human subjects such as research participants (but NOT NUH patients) requires review and clearance.   NUS IRB irb@nus.edu.sg or contact Mr Chan Tuck Wai, (email dprctw@nus.edu.sg).  NUH patients NHG DSRB Domain Specific Review Board rdo-dsrb@nhg.com.sg  Account activation can proceed if PI declares that work involving human subjects will only be conducted at the later part of the project. The declaration can be made in the Grant Endorsement Form. ** For NMRC-funded projects, ethics approvals are required for account activation.
Animals	IACUC Approval	Not necessary at point of account activation	1. Account activation can proceed if PI declares that animal experimentation will only be conducted at the later part of the project. The declaration can be made in the Grant Endorsement Form. Please kindly visit NUS IACUC website for more information or forms or contact NUS IACUC, Dr John Foo (email dprfooj@nus.edu.sg)   2. National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR) Guidelines - Download   3. Personnel handling and/or conducting procedure on live vertebrate animals are required to attend training course on "Responsible Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (RCULA)" to meet all the requirements for training as set forth in the NACLAR Guidelines. Kindly contact Comparative Medicine Office at (Tel: 6516 6654 or email: ahusec@nus.edu.sg)   4. If animal work/specimen will be carried out/obtained from external institution/s, approval/s from both the external institution/s and NUS IACUC are required. *Research protocol Involving Animal Use & Care in Singhealth facilities requires review and clearance by Singhealth IACUC. Singhealth IACUC Contact:  iacuc@singhealth.com.sg
External Collaboration	Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) or Contract Research Agreement (CRA)	Not necessary at point of account activation	A Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) or Contract Research Agreement (CRA) is required when a PI collaborates and/or receives funding from an external party and/or there is a likelihood of inventing, creating or developing new Intellectual Property in the research project. These include local or overseas partners from industry, private and public companies, statutory boards, universities or other institutions.   Contacts: For NUS contracts involving patents, please contact Patents Administration at  ilobox3@nus.edu.sg  For other contracts, please contact NUS Contracts Administration at ilobox4@nus.edu.sg For Clinical Trials / Clinical Research Agreements Review, please contact Mr Timothy Chia at medccpt@nus.edu.sg.   Account activation can precede finalisation of a RCA with the named external collaborator. For NUS Contracts, NUS PI is required to complete ILO's Statement of Undertaking Form to expediate the account activation provided that other essential ethics approvals have been obtained.
Conducting Research in Malaysia	Approval from the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia	Not necessary at point of account activation	Staff who wish to conduct research in Malaysia are required to seek approval from the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia before doing so. Failure to do so would constitute a violation under the "Regulations for the Conduct of Research in Malaysia". Please go to the Malaysia Economic Planning Unit website to download information paper on the rules for conducting research in Malaysia.
Conducting Research in Thailand	Approval from National Research Council, Thailand (NRCT)	Not necessary at point of account activation	Staff who wish to conduct research in Thailand are required to seek approval from NRCT before doing so. Please visit NRCT's website for the application forms and regulations.
Conducting Research in Other Countries	Necessary approvals (if any)	Not necessary at point of account activation	PI must check and ensure that necessary approvals (if any) from the relevant authorities are obtained and/or research compliance met before commencement of project in the said country(ies).

 

Others

1. Research Data Management Policy

The policy applies to all NUS faculty members, staffs, students and any other persons at the University engaged in research. Click here to download the policy.