Research Ethics
University of Limerick researchers have a duty to uphold the highest standards of research ethics principles. These principles aim to protect the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of all actual or potential research participants.
All University staff and students are required to plan and conduct their investigations in accordance with appropriate ethical standards. Staff should ensure that they have knowledge of any relevant disciplinary guidelines on research ethics and that any empirical research has the required approval by the relevant faculty's Research Ethics Committee and/ or other bodies as required.
Faculty Research Ethics Committees
Faculty Research Ethics Committees (RECs) are charged by the University to consider the ethics of proposed research projects which will involve human subjects and to agree or not as to whether the projected research is ethical.
Animal Research
If your research is working with animals please consult the Animal Research Ethics Committee Code of Practice. A specific Animal Research Ethics Application Form must be completed. (UL internal access only for both documents).
UL Research Ethics Governance Committee
The UL Research Ethics Governance Committee (ULREG) is primarily concerned with research related policies, procedures and governance. All appeals of Faculty REC decisions are referred to ULREG.
The Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation maintains overall responsibility for research ethics and governance structures at the University.
Associate Professor John Mulvihill, School of Engineering and Bernal Institute is chair of ULREG. John's research in cellular mechanobiology, traumatic brain injury and medical device development involves extensive human tissue, patient-related and translational research requiring rigorous ethical review. He teaches ethics, regulation and responsible innovation as part of Medical Device Design and Biomedical Engineering education.
Further information
For more information on Research Ethics, including training and documentation please visit the Researcher Journey (UL internal access only), information about Health Research and Cloud Governance and other relevant policies
