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Research Ethics at Leeds

Latest News

RESEARCH ETHICS IS CHANGING!
Phoenix, online research ethics application system is currently available to the faculties of Business, Environment, Social Sciences (BESS+); Arts, Humanities & Cultures (AHC) and Engineering & Physical Sciences (EPS).
Paper-based applications are NO longer accepted for these Faculty Research Ethics Committees (FRECS).

Important information for users of Phoenix

There was a major update to the Phoenix online application system on Tuesday 12 December 2023 at 20:00 hours.

If you:

  • are with Business, Environment, Social Sciences (BESS+ FREC)
  • began a new application before 12 December 2023, 20:00 hours
  • are in the process of submitting changes requested by the Reviewers
  • are wanting to submit an amendment to a previously approved application

DO NOT press the update button you see at the top of your screen as this will cause your application to become obsolete.

If you are beginning a brand new application AFTER 12th December 2023, please press the update button, to ensure you are using the latest version of the application form. (The button is a cream ribbon across the top of your screen.)

Any problems, please email ResearchEthics@leeds.ac.uk


Upcoming Events

Phoenix is being rolled out across the University according to the timetable below.  (Paper-based applications will not be accepted after the roll out dates.)

17 January 2024:  Faculties Arts, Humanities and Cultures; and Engineering and Physical Sciences

April 2024: Faculty of Biological Sciences; and School of Healthcare

May 2024: School of Medicine

June 2024: School of Dentistry; and School of Psychology

We will be undertaking support activities with colleagues in all these areas ahead of the roll out.

IMPORTANT

You must have ethical approval for your research project from a recognised research ethics committee prior to any research activity starting.

Accessing Phoenix

How to apply for research ethics approval

This section explains how to apply for research ethics approval.

You can also access the University's online research ethics application system Phoenix here.

How to amend an approved research ethics application

This section contains information on how to apply for an amendment of an approved research ethics application

Policies, Protocols and Guidance

This section contains the University Research Ethics Policies and Protocols you will need to be familiar with when applying for ethical approval.

Information about Faculty Research Ethics Committees

This section contains information relating to the 5 Faculty Research Ethics Committees:
Arts, Humanities and Cultures (AHC)
Biological Sciences (FBS)
Business, Environment, Social Sciences (BESS+)
Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS)
Medicine and Health (FMH)

Downloads

This section contains template forms and documents available to download

Health and Safety

This section is for help in locating the correct risk assessments you may need to have in place before starting your research project.

The importance of research ethics reviews

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all researchers and research organisations it supports have rigorously considered any ethics implications arising from the research design, methodology, conduct, dissemination, and the archiving, future use, sharing and linkage of the data produced.  It has a thorough ethical review procedure, in line with the University's Research Ethics Policy, which all researchers should follow

Research conducted to high ethical standards supports both the academic freedom of researchers and the reputation of the University as a centre for world-class research. Careful reflection and planning in relation to research ethics should not only benefit participants but should also enhance the overall quality of the research.

The University publishes an Annual Statement on Research Integrity.

The Statement for the previous session is available below:
2021-22