Externally approved project guidelines
The National Statement (2023; Ch. 5.5) recommends that institutions minimise duplication of ethical review. To ensure compliance with this recommendation, a research project which has been reviewed and approved by a fully constituted and registered Australian Human Research Ethics Committee (ethics review body) or via an appropriate non-ethics review body pathway at another institution, may be submitted for review as an externally approved project. For externally approved projects, La Trobe accepts the ethical approval of the original reviewing ethics review body. The researcher must ensure the original ethics review body is aware of La Trobe's involvement in the research project. All modifications, annual reports, final reports and serious adverse event reports should be submitted to the original ethics review body for review and approval. These documents must be provided to La Trobe in a timely manner for monitoring purposes.
La Trobe reserves the right to place conditions on its acceptance of external approvals if it finds the research project does not meet the requirements of the National Statement or other relevant legislation; if La Trobe students are involved as participants; or if the research project potentially exposes the University to undue risks..
Who should apply for a review of an externally approved study?
- A Principal Investigator (PI) who is a La Trobe staff member who is required to gain ethics approval from another institution as they either hold a joint appointment or the research project will be conducted at a clinic or centre of the other institution.
- A Co-investigator of an externally approved research project who is a La Trobe staff member.
- A La Trobe student undertaking research at another institution requiring ethical approval by its ethics review body may also apply for expedited review.
All externally approved studies must be reviewed by the Human Research Ethics Committee (ethics review body) Chair. Please submit via PRIME.
Submission requirements
- An email requesting review of a research project approved by an external ethics review body, noting the title of the research project and the name of the approving institution.
- A copy of the approved ethics application and all support documents submitted to the external ethics review body, ensuring that the title of the research project on the application form matches the one in the request email.
- A copy of the final approval letter from the external ethics review body, with all conditions of approval included.
- Externally Approved Project Application Form
A formal acceptance notice will be sent by the La Trobe Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety Senior Manager. Applicants should allow at least 14 working days for notification.