In accordance with the NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007), the Melbourne Health HREC has established a process for the review of research involving no more than low risk – review by the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee.

The Low Risk Research Sub-Committee is an informal “sub-committee” of the HREC which meets in the week prior to the monthly meeting of the full HREC.

The membership of the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee is fluid but is required to comprise at least 2 “scientific spokespersons” and 2 “ethics spokespersons” from amongst the membership of the HREC.  The HREC Manager or Assistant Manager also attend these meetings.  Each month, different members of the HREC attend the meeting of the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee.

The minutes of the meetings of the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee are incorporated into the agenda and then the minutes of the next scheduled meeting of the HREC and the decisions of the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee must be endorsed and adopted by the HREC before any correspondence is forwarded to the researchers involved.

The application procedures and submission deadlines for the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee are the same as those for the HREC.

New projects are “triaged” as being suitable for review by the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee by the HREC Manager and Assistant Manager after each monthly new project submission deadline.

Researchers are welcome to contact the Office of the Research Directorate prior to submission deadlines to discuss whether their project would be suitable for review by the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee.  Only twelve (x12) copies, including the original are required for projects to be reviewed by the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee.