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The Australasian Human Research Ethics Consultancy Services (AHRECS) team brings extensive experience and expertise to support your research ethics needs. We have collaborated with research ethics committees, regulatory bodies, and professional organisations across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam, ensuring compliance with international standards, including US OHRPP and ORI requirements.
Our team combines a deep theoretical understanding with a practical knowledge of regulatory frameworks. With over 20 years of collective experience, our senior consultants excel in implementing best practices in research ethics training, systems, and reforms. By partnering with AHRECS, you gain access to trusted advisors who can help you navigate complex requirements, enhance your systems, and ensure ethical excellence in your research practices.
Latest blog entries
The Code Breaker book review
In this post, AHRECS senior consultant, Erich von Dietze, does a review of an incredibly interesting book by Walter Isaacson. The book, 'Breaking the Code' is a very engaging discussion and introduction to genetic research and the labs that work in this field. The book focuses upon Jennifer Doudna and her collaborators. The writing style…
AHRECS expands to encompass animal ethics
In this short post AHRECS consultant, Amanda Fernie discusses the animal ethics services that AHRECS now provides and are experienced in, in this complex and important area of research governance. Amanda is one of the recent additions to the AHRECS team. She brings considerable experience as someone who has worked as an animal ethics officer…
An argument for registers for research ethics committee members
In this great and very helpful post, Gary and Kim (from AHRECS) looks at the benefits of institutions establishing and keeping updated a register of their members. Such a register could track, when a member was appointed to the committee, when their appointment is up for renewal and the maximum finish date for their appointment.…
Is having alternate/reserve members a helpful practice?
In this incredibly helpful and practical post, Erich von Dietze (a senior consultant at AHRECS) reflects on the considerations, benefits and potential challenges when trying to structure your ethics committee (whether human research or Animal Ethics). Like many matters in research governance (especially Human Research Ethics and Animal Ethics), there is no simple answer that…
Setting the right tone
In this very practical talk, AHRECS senior consultant, Gary discusses the positive and constructive ways in which a research ethics committee Chair can set the tone of the meeting. Committees can, and should, have a role beyond the normal operational tasks (e.g. confirmation of the minutes), research ethics review (including the framing of review feedback)…
The need for ethical guidance for research other than human research or animal-based scientific work
In this post, AHRECS Senior Consultant, Gary Allen, reflects on the fact that some research that does not require research ethics review from a Human Research Ethics Committee or an Animal Ethics Committee involve serious ethical questions that could benefit from guidance and ethical standards. He uses four topical cases to illustrate why this is…
Can reading Australian novels help us become more ethical researchers?
If someone asked you for some recommended reading or viewing to help them understand human research ethics, animal ethics or research integrity, what would you recommend? The policies and standards issued by National governments, learned societies, funding bodies and academic publications are generally not especially engaging or entertaining. In this blog post, Sally Dalton-Brown discusses…
Friend or foe? Building better relationships between HRECs and researchers
In this terrific post, Jess Carniel of the University of Southern Queensland, reflects on research ethics committees engaging with researchers in discipline areas not included in core membership of a committee. Jess Carniel is Senior Lecturer in Humanities in the School of Humanities and Communication, UniSQ. She is also Deputy Chair of the USQ Human…
Ethics Committees and Research Data Management
Human research projects often raise complex Data Management issues and considerations that can be pertinent for consent, privacy, risk management and research ethics review. Research data is also an important element of research integrity, in that it serves as a record of the way in which the research project was conducted and the results of…
The trouble with circRNAs- are researchers going around in circles?
In this very interesting post, Professor Jennifer Byrne (University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, NSW Health Pathology) looks at the mistakes being made in circRNAs papers, even in high-profile, supposedly high-quality and distinguished publications. She reflects on what might be the cause of those mistakes, why they are a big deal what could…
Animal Ethics: Handling (difficult) enquiries
In this thought-provoking post Erich von Dietze (AHRECS Senior Consultant) and Geoff Dandie (AHRECS Consultant) reflects upon institutions and Animal Ethics Committees receiving external enquiries about Animal Ethics at the institution. In addition to their roles at AHRECS, they are very experienced in Animal Ethics at a number of institutions, including the operation of Animal…
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