Ethics and Governance

Research projects funded by RBWH Grants must provide evidence of Ethics and Governance approvals before research activities can commence. CI-A’s are required to provide evidence of approved Ethics and Governance to RBWH_Grants@health.qld.gov.au prior to invoicing for payment.

RBWH Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee

For research that takes place at RBWH, most ethics approval is provided by the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (EC00172), an HREC certified by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) as one that can undertake reviews of multi-centre research.

Learn more about applying to the RBWH HREC.

Research governance and site-authorisation

Public health facilities use the Site-Specific Assessment Application (SSA) within Queensland Health to document all research governance arrangements for a study at a site. This involves assessing the legal, financial, regulatory, and contractual matters related to research. All applications are reviewed by the Research Governance Office. An SSA approval letter is required before a research study can commence at the site.

Learn more about the Site Specific Assessment (SSA) application.

Extensions and Variations

We understand that occasionally research projects do not always go as intended. If you have received an RBWH Grant or Postgraduate Scholarship and you have encountered significant challenges or changes in circumstance, you may be able to apply for a grant extension or variation.

Grant extension

A grant extension is a change to the end date of a current grant. To request a grant extension, the CI-A must submit a formal letter of request to the Director of Research and Implementation, RBWH through RBWH_Grants@health.qld.gov.au a minimum of six weeks prior to the grant end date.
Extensions are considered by a panel of stakeholders and approved at the discretion of the Director of Research and Implementation, RBWH. Please allow four weeks for notification of outcome.

Grant or budget variation

A grant or budget variation is a change to the approved research project or research project budget approved at the time the grant as awarded.
To request a grant or budget variation, the CI-A must submit a formal request to vary in writing to the Director of Research and Implementation, RBWH through RBWH_Grants@health.qld.gov.au a minimum of six weeks prior the grant end date.

If you are requesting a budget variation you will need to include a full revised budget for the grant, with signed approval from your Business Manager.

Variation request are approved or rejected at the discretion of the Director of Research and Implementation, RBWH.

Please allow four weeks for notification of outcome.

Acquittal Obligations

A core part of meeting you funding obligations is providing timely and thorough interim and final acquittals.

Reporting requirements are outlined in the individual Letter of Offer provided at the time of award.

CI-A’s are required to provide:

• Interim acquittal – provided no later than 30 June of the calendar year the grant is awarded, unless otherwise stated
• Final acquittal – provided no later than 12 weeks post the grant end date (i.e. if the grant end date is 31 December, final acquittals are due no later than 31 March). Final acquittals should include a thorough report on outcomes including details of grant expenditure and publications arising.

RBWH Research and COVID-19

Individual chief investigators (CIs) should undertake contingency planning to address the potential impact of COVID-19 and responses to the pandemic on the proposed research. Clinical departments and services should consider the nature and procedures of each research project and determine if changes are required.

RBWH has established an approach to research activity during the COVID-19 pandemic to support researchers and departments to optimise research activity and support a vibrant profile of research at RBWH.

Learn more about COVID-19 research resources.