Approval Procedure

Submission procedure

1.     The deadline for submission is the first Friday of every month.

2.     Ensure that you have read through the protocol drafting recommendations.

3.     Download the submission checklist.

4.     Rename your upload file as specified.

5.     Click Submit Protocol and fill in the submission form.

6.     You will receive a confirmation message on the site, following which you will receive a confirmatory email with a link to your uploaded file.

7.     Your protocol will be sent for peer review by the committee.

8.     An agenda for the meeting will be forwarded to you the Monday before the meeting.

9.     Ensure that you have a representative at the meeting to present the protocol should you not be able to attend.

 

Meeting review

1.     The meeting is an open forum with the intention of assisting the researcher achieve the aims of the protocol.

2.     The researcher should present the protocol with the emphasis on the methodology.

3.     Although the researcher will receive a formal "track-changed" review of the protocol, feedback and recommendations at the meeting are dynamic and it is recommended that the investigator takes notes.

4.     A formal review will be sent via email within a week of the meeting review.

5.     A resubmission of the corrected protocol should be performed through the website with the appropriate reference number.

6.     If the investigator disagrees with the recommendations, please upload a response letter via the website with referencing the protocol number.

7.     An approval letter will be submitted within a week of resubmission, provided that the queries are addressed.

 

Procedure after approval

1.     Human ethics committee (FHS013) AEC Animal ethics committee (FHS003) are required to be signed off by the DRC prior to submission to the relevant ethics committee.

2.     Please email completed forms to the DRC chair.  The electronically signed forms will be returned via email.

Any queries can be directed to the DRC chair.

 

Additional approvals required

Following Human / Animal ethics committee approval, the following approvals must be obtained PRIOR to starting your research project:

• Relevant institutional permission (Groote Schuur Hospital / Red Cross Children’s Hospital / etc).  Instructions can be obtained at FUM Drive (https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1DjQ5y2GrumfA33TW1H-8nkhrEUszHh_x).
• Faculty Biosafety Committee approval (if relevant)
• National Health Research Database (if relevant)