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Australasian Human Research Ethics Consultancy Services Pty Ltd (AHRECS)

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Institutional Subscribers Website
For $350/year your institution can get access to some great resources you can share on your intranet. At the same time you will be supporting the Research Ethics Monthly, the Resource Library and our social media activity
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Individual Subscriber
From USD1/month (USD15/month gives you access to everything) you can get access to some great resources. At the same time you will be supporting the Research Ethics Monthly, the Resource Library and our social media activity
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Human Research Ethics
Our human research ethics services extend far beyond the delivery of tailored professional development workshops, including strategies to improve institutional arrangements and national guidelines.
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Research Integrity
An effective research integrity framework is one based upon a number of complementary strategies that include coherent policy, sophisticated resource materials and attention to curriculum and pedagogy, and fair and responsible approaches to investigation. AHRECS can assist your institution adopt a world-class approach.
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Research Ethics Monthly
This monthly electronic publication from AHRECS includes posts about human research ethics/research integrity with practical tips and ideas that matter from around the world.
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Resource Library
With over 1900 entries the Resource Library contains news, papers, books, codes/statements/policies and other resources relating to human research ethics and research integrity.
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About Us

AHRECS: Voice for constructive change. We provide access to some of the leading experts in human research ethics in Australia and New Zealand.

We provide expert and high quality consultancy services relating to research integrity, human research ethics, educational integrity and publication ethics for Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Over the years AHRECS has provided advice on human research ethics and research integrity matters to government departments, institutions, researchers, research ethics reviewers and ethics managers.

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Resources

A chain link viewed through a page of translucent binary code.

Ethical Issues in Social Media Recruitment for Clinical Studies: Ethical Analysis and Framework (Bettina M Zimmermann, et al | June 2021)

Halloween concept, zombie hand rising out from the ground

Addressing the Continued Circulation of Retracted Research as a Design Problem (Nathan D. Woods & Jodi Schneider | February 2022)

A COVID-19 lie. A long nose sprouting from a face, with a COVID cell at the end.

Unethical studies of ivermectin for covid-19 (Editorial: Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, et al | April 2022)

A cartoon of a researcher pondering research integrity matters.

(UK) Guidance to implement the Concordat to Support Research Integrity within government (Guidance: Government Office for Science | February 2022)

Funny white rat looking out of a cage (shallow DOF, selective focus on the rat nose and whiskers)

ANZCCART Fact Sheets (September 2020)

A menacing zombie lurching at us from a dimn sunset-lit cemetery, with four of his brethren following after.

Addressing the Continued Circulation of Retracted Research as a Design Problem (Papers: Nathan D. Woods & Jodi Schneider | February 2022)

A chain link viewed through a page of translucent binary code.

Ethical Issues in Social Media Recruitment for Clinical Studies: Ethical Analysis and Framework (Bettina M Zimmermann, et al | June 2021)

Halloween concept, zombie hand rising out from the ground

Addressing the Continued Circulation of Retracted Research as a Design Problem (Nathan D. Woods & Jodi Schneider | February 2022)

A COVID-19 lie. A long nose sprouting from a face, with a COVID cell at the end.

Unethical studies of ivermectin for covid-19 (Editorial: Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, et al | April 2022)

A cartoon of a researcher pondering research integrity matters.

(UK) Guidance to implement the Concordat to Support Research Integrity within government (Guidance: Government Office for Science | February 2022)

Funny white rat looking out of a cage (shallow DOF, selective focus on the rat nose and whiskers)

ANZCCART Fact Sheets (September 2020)

A menacing zombie lurching at us from a dimn sunset-lit cemetery, with four of his brethren following after.

Addressing the Continued Circulation of Retracted Research as a Design Problem (Papers: Nathan D. Woods & Jodi Schneider | February 2022)

Our Blog

Ethics Honesty Responsibility Education Learning Business concept.

Effective use of research management systems

In this post, Michael Creevey (the CEO of Endpoint IQ) discusses the effective and constructive use of research management systems, including research ethics modules.

He discusses how a system can be used to resource and support a positive research culture within an institution.

Effective systems should provide the tools so users and their stakeholders can operate a constructive and value adding set of research governance arrangements (including Human Research Ethics, Animal Ethics and the related processes).

Michael discusses the origins of Endpoint IQ and how it was informed by the perspectives, needs and aspirations of research managers and researchers in Australia.

AHRECS is very conscious of the degree to which we have a conflict of interest in this space, but we think the Endpoint IQ system is excellent and is worth a serious look. We have an ongoing good relationship with Michael and the Endpoint IQ team, we have also partnered with them in bids in New Zealand. We also have a small financial connection to them. This conflict notwithstanding, we encourage research institutions to have a serious look at this system.

Even though Endpoint IQ is an excellent system, there are a number of other research management systems that are commendable and can perform similar (but not identical) functions to those of Endpoint IQ.

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HREC decision-making about social research with children: the influence of payment, risk and method

In her latest thought-provoking post Stephanie Taplin reflects on social research with children/young adults and the impact of offering them incentives in the form of payments.

These matters have been controversial for research ethics committee and resulted in a block of items in the review feedback from the reviewing committee/s.

Despite the authority provided by the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NHMRC, 2007, updated 2018) HRECs can be nervous about approving such research with incentives.

Despite this difficulty for reviewers, incentives in the form of payments definitely increases the chances that a young person will respond to a recruitment strategy.

Stephanie’s work has highlighted the degree to which a review body may be more comfortable with the offer of a chance to win and an incentive in a prize draw, at values over ten times as high as the direct incentive payment.

Another area of tension between the preferences of review body and young people is the difference between face-to-face interviews and anonymous questionnaires.

In this post Stephanie reflects on why researchers should engage with HRECs on these matters, rather than choose a path most likely to be accepted immediately by a committee.

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National Human Research Ethics Conference – an administrator’s perspective

In this terrific post, Sara Gottliebsen reflects on the last few years’ experiences in organising the incredibly popular annual human research ethics webinar.

This free event was first conceived of by Gorden McGurk, who has organised the webinars over the last few years.

The Human Research Ethics conferences have established a very high standard for the design, execution, speakers and contents for such an event.

The event received very high praise and deserved to get it.

The itinerary of speakers, events and activities for a free event is simply remarkable and deserving of the highest praise.

Well done Gordon, Sara and the team.

AHRECS is proud to be one of the inaugural sponsors of this event and will be continuing our sponsorship in 2022.

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The challenge of being ‘fit for purpose’

In this incredibly interesting post, Racheal Laugery reflects on an incredibly uncomfortable but very timely question.

Is the current approach to research ethics review fit for purpose?

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, border closes and reduced international student income, insufficient government funding and a drive towards commercial research/commercialisation is our current approach to research ethics review Imbil and responsive enough?

What needs to be challenged and
changed? How can we get there? Who will need professional development and capacity building?

This requires an approach to reform that is focused on research ethics reviewers, researchers and research office staff.

Change won’t be quick and easy, but is absolutely necessary to ensure an institution’s arrangements are fit for the time.

Our approach will need to be interactive and responsive to problems that we can’t foresee yet.

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You must be this ethical…

In this controversial post, AHRECS Senior Consultant Dr Gary Allen poses the challenging question: Should institutions with lean and fast proportional review arrangements leverage them as incentives for ethical behaviour.

AHRECS recommends institutions resourcing reflective practice, rather than police compliance (https://www.ahrecs.com/resources/resourcing-reflective-practice-whiteboard-video-7-5-min) but could such a systemic reward be helpful?

He discusses the behaviour that could be rewarded and how the reward might function.

The post suggests the arrangements, processes and data collection institutions will need to have in place to make such a reward system work.

While we are generally not fans of introducing any punitive element to human research ethics, preferring collegiate approaches that are focussed constructively on an institution’s research culture, this is an interesting idea. It is worth further serious consideration.

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Adele’s Adventures in Wonderland*: Reflections on a 12-year journey in ethics, research integrity and so much more

In this post, inspired by Lewis Carol’s book, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Adele Kay reflects on the wild and wacky (and sometimes surreal) experiences she had in a great career in the human research ethics, research integrity, animal, etc spaces.

She generously shares observations, tips and suggestions how to navigate this space with good humour.

Part of this is reading, interpreting and explaining national frameworks to executive and other senior staff.

She reflects upon useful skills, experience, training and education.

Working for constructive change on these matters from within an institution can sometimes be frustrating and feel a little wacky. Often AHRECS has been brought in to provide an independent and expert opinion on what internal staff have been saying for some time.

We suspect her commentary and experiences will both ring true for experienced practitioners and offer helpful tips.

We greatly enjoyed this post and we hope you will too.

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News Feed

A computer graphic image representing using technology to edit genetic code.

(China) China focuses on ethics to deter another ‘CRISPR babies’ scandal – Nature (Smriti Mallapaty | April 2022)

Wooden court gavel on black background. Symbol of justice, judge and trial. Auction.

(Sweden) Surgeon on trial in Sweden over experimental windpipe transplants – The Guardian (April 2022)

A sad cartoon about a person being destitute because they suggested research on their own institution.

Friday afternoon’s funny – Research into your practice shouldn’t be a road to ruin

Two hands made of words about justice and inclusion meeting above the word Respect.

(Australia) How I found a way to balance research integrity with people’s welfare – Nature (Laura McCosker | May 2022)

A highlighter pen highlighting the, dictionary definition of the word misconduct.

(Australia) Research scandal costs Queensland institute millions of dollars – Brisbane Times (Sean Parnell | April 2022)

A gray laboratory mouse with an immunological plate, a syringe and vials. Concept - testing of drugs, vaccines, laboratory animals, humanity, genetic studies.

(US) Members Of University Research Committee Jointly File Lawsuit Against University Of Washington – Seattle Medium (February 2022)

A computer graphic image representing using technology to edit genetic code.

(China) China focuses on ethics to deter another ‘CRISPR babies’ scandal – Nature (Smriti Mallapaty | April 2022)

Wooden court gavel on black background. Symbol of justice, judge and trial. Auction.

(Sweden) Surgeon on trial in Sweden over experimental windpipe transplants – The Guardian (April 2022)

A sad cartoon about a person being destitute because they suggested research on their own institution.

Friday afternoon’s funny – Research into your practice shouldn’t be a road to ruin

Two hands made of words about justice and inclusion meeting above the word Respect.

(Australia) How I found a way to balance research integrity with people’s welfare – Nature (Laura McCosker | May 2022)

A highlighter pen highlighting the, dictionary definition of the word misconduct.

(Australia) Research scandal costs Queensland institute millions of dollars – Brisbane Times (Sean Parnell | April 2022)

A gray laboratory mouse with an immunological plate, a syringe and vials. Concept - testing of drugs, vaccines, laboratory animals, humanity, genetic studies.

(US) Members Of University Research Committee Jointly File Lawsuit Against University Of Washington – Seattle Medium (February 2022)

Animal
Ethics

Global
Ethics

Human
Ethics

Research
Integrity

Aotearoa
New Zealand

South East Asia from orbit with a network of connecting lines

AHRECS in Asia

AHRECS in Asia

Australasian Human Research Ethics Consultancy Services: Our work in Asia
澳大利亚和新西兰人类研究伦理咨询服务 / 澳大利亞和新西蘭人類研究倫理諮詢服務

Despite our name and our strong connections to Australia and New Zealand, for several years we have been providing advice to institutions in East and South-East Asia. In 2003, Gary Allen helped the Hanoi School of Public Health in Vietnam establish its human research ethics arrangements.

Following a period as an external examiner in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong, Mark Israel advised the Faculty of Law there on research integrity.

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Resourcing Reflective Practice

Individually and together we have written a fair amount (see Gary, Mark and Colin‘s profiles for references) about the inherent flaws
of the enforcement and compliance approach. A more constructive, sustainable and positive approach is one that has a resourcing
reflective practice objective. See this short whiteboard video for more about this approach.

Cherry blossom blooming in University of Canterbury, NZ

Human Research Ethics advice for University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Hand holding a pen to a whiteboard

Whiteboard resourcing reflective practice

Three young students look toward us and give us a thumbs up

SoTL Resource Booklets

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University of Western Australia

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Gary Allen

KIM GIFKINS

MARK ISRAEL

SARAH BYRNE

MANDY DOWNING

Amanda Fernie

SUSANNA GORMAN

LINDSEY TE ATA…

Gordon McGurk

Erich von Dietze

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