Our HREC (Human Research Ethics Committee) advice
Our HREC provides the attached advice for researchers and clinicians conducting human research under a Peter Mac HREC ethical approval.
All research projects must consider what measures they can introduce to reduce participant and staff exposure to COVID-19 and to reduce the impact on hospital resources. In many cases this will result in the projects being put on hold.
The safety of research participants and staff is our priority.
Our RGO advice
Our RGO provides the attached advice for researchers and clinicians conducting human research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
All research projects must consider what measures they can introduce to reduce participant and staff exposure to COVID-19 and to reduce the impact on hospital resources. In many cases this will result in the projects being put on hold.
The safety of research participants and staff is our priority.
Expedited review of COVID-19 research
Our HREC and Research Governance Office will expedite the review of COVID-19 related research.
Submissions to the HREC can be made at any time and will be reviewed online by the HREC. For submission instructions see New Ethics Application. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. when a submission is made to assist in expediting review.
You can submit it to the RGO at any time, and we will promptly review them. For submission instructions see New Governance Application. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. when a submission is made to assist in expediting review.
Note that the Victorian Department of Health has developed a template Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF) available for Coronavirus or related research that involves collection of health information and/or samples.
Alert: COVID-19 ethics advice for researchers
COVID-19 will have a significant impact on research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac). Several measures have been introduced to manage research capacity and manage the safety of research participants and research staff.
Our Executive has introduced measures to manage the safety of clinical research staff and participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to manage pressure on clinical services. See Peter Mac Executive below.
Our Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) has provided approval of measures to manage the safety of clinical research staff and participants. See Peter Mac HREC below.
Peter Mac Research Governance Office (RGO) has provided advice on approval of measures to manage the safety of clinical research staff and participants. See Peter Mac RGO below.
Peter Mac HREC and RGO have provided advice regarding expedited review of COVID-19 related research. See Expedited Review of COVID-19 Research below.
Management of research in response to COVID-19
Peter Mac Executive
The Research Executive Team introduced measures to appropriately manage clinical research staff and participants during the COVID-19 pandemic and to manage the pressure on our clinical services.
This was done After careful consideration, and in consultation and with the full support of our Chief Executive Shelley Dolan.
The detailed attached advice was effective from 30 March 2020.
Phased Increase in Clinical Research Activity
With the State and Federal governments’ restrictions significantly slowing the rate of new COVID-19 infections, and in consultation with our Infection Prevention Department, Research Executive and Chief Executive, we are now planning a strategic and staged escalation of clinical research activity.
Increased clinical research activities will proceed phased until full reactivation at Peter Mac is established. The timing of the phase rollouts will be guided by consultations with Peter Mac’s Infection Prevention and Chief Executive Shelley Dolan. Further increases in research activities will be guided with consideration of advice from State and Federal governments.
Important to our escalation strategy is the ability to rapidly phase roll backs of individual trials if necessary and advised.
The attached advice was effective from 1 May 2020.
