All research in Australia involving human participants is reviewed by an independent group called a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is constituted and operated in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2023.
In this section
The RMH Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is an NHMRC-accredited ethics committee and is qualified to review applications for the approval of clinical trials.
Find out moreAll research studies must be submitted for ethical review before a study can be given approval to start.
Find out moreThe Office for Research has monthly deadlines for submission of new research project applications for review by the RMH Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
Find out moreThe Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016 (Vic) provides a framework for making decisions about medical treatment when people do not have the capacity to make their own decisions.
Find out moreResearchers proposing to expose research participants to ionising radiation should provide information that allows consent to be properly considered by research participants.
Find out moreThe Office for Research assists medical practitioners to provide patients with access to products that have not been approved for use in Australia.
Find out moreQuality assurance (QA) projects are an essential and integral part of improving the quality of healthcare service and delivery.
Find out moreThe National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (National Statement) offers a structured approach for Human Research Ethics Committees (HREC) to evaluate the appropriateness of waiving consent.
Find out more
About clinical trials
We need clinical trials to prove that new treatments are safe and effective for people to use. They are essential to the discovery of new medications and devices, neither of which can be approved for use in Australia without clinical trials.