University Research Ethics Committees

Research projects involving protected animals (as defined by ASPA) are reviewed by the Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body (AWERB).

AWERB meets physically once a month and applicants will generally receive a decision on their ethics application within two weeks of the meeting. Any queries should be directed to awerb@newcastle.ac.uk    

‌AWERB Terms of Reference‌‌ [PDF: 91KB updated Dec 2023].  

For further information regarding ethics review for research projects involving animals, see the animals animals ethics toolkit section.

Important

Please note that we are unable to approve projects that have already started or have been completed. The AWERB are not able to influence the experimental design, particularly in relation to animal welfare. Applications would still be reviewed to ensure that there was no reputational risk to Newcastle University and late submissions would be reported to University Research Ethics Committee.  

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) REC reviews research projects where:

• the research is flagged as high-risk by Newcastle University
• the principal investigator is a member of HaSS

The HaSS REC reviews applications virtually. Ethics applications submitted via Newcastle University's online ethics forms are sent automatically to the Faculty Ethics Coordinator if they meet the criteria above. The Faculty Ethics Coordinator forwards the application to a HaSS REC member for review. Any queries should be directed to Wendy Davison.

HaSS Terms of Reference [Word: 32KB].

The Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering (SAgE) REC reviews research projects where the:

• research is flagged as high-risk by Newcastle University
• principal investigator is a member of SAgE

The SAgE REC reviews applications virtually. Ethics applications submitted via Newcastle University's online ethics forms are sent automatically to the Faculty Ethics Coordinator if they meet the criteria above. The Faculty Ethics Coordinator forwards the application to two SAgE REC members for review. Applicants will usually receive a decision within ten working days of submission. Any queries should be directed to sage.ethics@ncl.ac.uk

SAgE Terms of Reference [Word: 14KB]. 

The Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) REC reviews research projects where the:

• research is flagged as high-risk by Newcastle University
• principal investigator is a member of FMS
• research requires review by an Institutional Review Board, (as it receives funding or other support from a US federal agency)

The FMS REC reviews applications virtually. Ethics applications submitted via Newcastle University's online ethics forms are sent automatically to the Faculty Ethics Coordinator if they meet the criteria above. The Faculty Ethics Coordinator forwards the application to two FMS REC members for review. Applicants will usually receive a decision within ten working days of submission. Any queries should be directed to fmsethics@ncl.ac.uk    

FMS Terms of Reference [Word: 34KB].

The School of Psychology REC is a sub-committee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) REC. It reviews research projects where the:

• research is flagged as high-risk by Newcastle University
• principal investigator is an undergraduate student in the School of Psychology

The School of Psychology REC reviews applications virtually. Ethics applications submitted via Newcastle University's online ethics forms are sent automatically to the Chair of the committee if they meet the criteria above. The Chair then allocates the application to another member of the committee for review, as required. Applicants will usually receive a decision within ten working days of submission. Any queries should be directed to jenny.read@newcastle.ac.uk