The Research Ethics Committee has been set up by Senate, at its 467th (Ordinary) Meeting held on 27 January 2005.  The Committee looks into the following aspects:

• Elements of moral damage
• Threat to law and order
• Threat to national unity, peace and harmony
• Health hazards
• Threat to the environment
• Threat to the national heritage
• Animal Experimentation

Senate, at its 505th (Ordinary) Meeting held on 11 March 2008, approved the revamping of the “Terms of Reference” as follows:

Terms of Reference:

1. Constitution and membership

1.1 The University of Mauritius Research Ethics Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) is hereby set up.

1.2 Membership of the Committee shall be as follows:

1.2.1 A UoM staff to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor upon the

recommendation of the Pro Vice-chancellor (RCI) as Chairperson;

1.2.2 A member with experience in legal matters;

1.2.3 A member with experience in the practice of medecine (He/She should be a member of the Na tional Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health & Quality of Life);

1.2.4 A member with experience in social sciences;

1.2.5 A member with experience in the field of language/literature/journalism/arts;

1.2.6 A member with experience in natural sciences;

1.2.7 A member with experience in environmental issues;

1.2.8 A medical microbiologist;

1.2.9 A member with experience in biosafety issues;

1.2.10 A member with experience in veterinary science

1.3 All members shall be appointed by the Senate.

1.4 The member appointed under paragraph 1.2.3 above may propose an alternate who shall then be considered for appointment as alternate to that member by the Senate.

1.5 Members are appointed with respect to their specific expertise and not in a representative capacity.

1.6 Appointments are normally for a period of two years renewable.

1.7 All members, upon acceptance of appointment, must sign a confidentiality agreement

1.8 The University of Mauritius accepts legal responsibility for any decision taken by the Committee and will indemnify its members against any claim that may be made against them which arise in respect of their membership of the Committee, provided that they have acted in good faith in reaching the decisions made.

1.9 No member shall take part in any discussion and decision making process with regard to any research in which he/she has an interest of any nature whatsoever.

1.10 The Committee shall report to the Vice-Chancellor, through the Pro Vice-Chancellor (RCI).

1.11 The Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (RCI) shall appoint a Secretary to the Committee

2. Responsibilities of the Committee

2.1 The Committee has the responsibility to consider the ethical implications of research conducted by staff, students and visitors of the University of Mauritius or conducted under the auspices of the University of Mauritius.

2.2 Research under the Committee's remit include -

2.2.1 Research involving experiments, investigations and

procedures on human subjects (whether physical, psychological or attitudinal) or human-derived material, such as tissues, body fluids;

2.2.2 Research involving experiments, investigations and procedures on animals;

2.2.3 Research involving databases of personal information;

2.2.4 Research having implications with regard to bio-safety;

2.2.5 Research, with ethical implications, which does not fall under any of the above headings.

2.3 However, the Committee is not responsible for considering the ethics of research involving -

2.3.1 Patients and users, including past patients and users, whether living or not, of the health service falling under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health & Quality of Life;

2.3.2 Participants recruited because of their status as relatives or carers of patients and users of the health service falling under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health & Quality of Life;

2.3.3 Access to data, organs or other bodily material or fluid of past and present patients, users or donors of the health service falling under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health & Quality of Life;

2.3.4 Staff of the health service falling under the responsibility of the

Ministry of Health & Quality of Life recruited as research participants by virtue of their professional role;

for which application should be made to the National Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health & Quality of Life.

2.4 In carrying out its duties under paragraph 2.1 above, and without prejudice to its generality, the Committee shall adhere to the following principles-

2.4.1 that the research is carried out in accordance with the prevailing laws of Mauritius, and with the principles and requirements of any relevant Code of Practice and Guidelines;

2.4.2 that the research is carried out in accordance with principles of distributive justice;

2.4.3 that the research is based on valid science (in the case of a research that has already been examined by a scientific committee, it is expected that this issue would already have been considered; this, however, shall not prevent the Committee from making observations on this issue which shall then be considered by the scientific committee);

2.4.4 that the research is carried out with the considered consent, respect to the autonomy and privacy of the participants;

2.4.5 that the research is carried out without threat to: law and order,

2.5 It is the responsibility of the researchers and their supervisor(s) to bring to the attention of the Committee any research that may require ethical clearance.

3.1 The Committee shall formally meet at least once every six months.

3.2 Applications to the Committee shall be made on the forms prescribed by the Committee.

3.4.2 Within two weeks of receipt of the application, each member shall indicate in writing (this includes communication by means of e-mail and fax):

• whether all ethical issues are resolved satisfactorily; or
• whether all ethical issues would be resolved satisfactorily provided that certain further information is provided and/or minor alterations are made and approved by the Chair, or
• whether ethical issues are raised which should be discussed by the Committee.

3.4.3 Where sub-paragraph 2a above applies, the Chair shall grant ethical clearance to the research.

3.4.4 Where sub-paragraph 2b above applies, the Secretary of the Committee shall inform the other members of the comments made and, subject to the required information being obtained or the minor alterations being made, the Chair may grant ethical clearance.

3.4.5 Where subparagraph 2c above applies, the application shall be considered at a meeting of the Committee.

3.5 Where a meeting is held 5 members present shall constitute a quorum.

4.1.2 require clarification or modification of parts of the research submission. The Chair will normally be granted authority to approve the amendments without requiring further consideration by the full Committee;

4.1.3 interview the applicant as and when the need arises;

4.1.4 defer consideration of a submission to a subsequent meeting if substantial modification is required or where significant additional information is required;

4.1.5 reject the research submission in whole or in part;

4.1.6 at any time revoke approval if dissatisfied with the conduct of the research or of the researchers.

4.2 The Committee will normally give reasons for requiring modification to proposals, rejecting them or revoking approval.

4.3 The Committee may call for reports in the course of the research project so that the Committee can be assured that projects continue to conform to approved ethical standards.

5. Responsibilities of the Applicant Subsequent to Approval

5.1 The applicant is responsible for:

 

5.1.1 reporting forthwith any adverse incident during the course of the research to the Committee, (e.g. a complaint by a participant, etc.)

5.1.2 notifying forthwith the Committee of any change in protocol and obtaining further ethical approval as appropriate.

5.1.3 submitting a report within one month of the completion of the research project; in case the research project is not completed within the time frame stated in the application, a report should be submitted within one month of the date on which the research project should have been completed.

 

Download Application Forms :

• Ethical Approval for Research Project Involving Human Subjects
• Ethical Approval for Research Project Involving Animals