ERC
- Home
- ERC
Introduction
The Ethics Review Committee (ERC) of the National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), Kalutara is an independent committee established to ensure that all research conducted under the auspices of NIHS adheres to the highest ethical standards. The primary mandate of the ERC is to protect the rights, safety, dignity, and wellbeing of human participants and animals involved in research, while facilitating ethically sound and scientifically valid research.
The NIHS ERC conducts ethical review and ongoing monitoring of research projects involving human participants and animals, in accordance with the Guidelines of the Forum for Ethics Review Committees in Sri Lanka (FERCSL) and other relevant national and international ethical guidelines. The Committee also provides guidance and oversight to promote a strong culture of research ethics among NIHS staff, students, and collaborating institutions.
Scope and Functions
The ERC is responsible for: – Independent, competent, and timely ethical review of research involving human participants and animals. – Ethical oversight and monitoring of approved research projects. – Reviewing research conducted by NIHS staff and students, and selected external or collaborative research projects, in line with the NIHS Terms of Reference. – Reviewing research involving clinical, epidemiological, social, behavioural, psychological, educational, and quality assurance methodologies. – Conducting full board reviews, expedited reviews, and granting exemptions for eligible studies.
The ERC reserves the right to withdraw ethical approval if approved protocols are not followed or if ethical concerns arise during the conduct of a study.
Committee Members
Chairperson
Dr. K. P. S. D. S. Chandrasekara
Secretary
Dr. Hemali Jayakody
How to Apply
Submission Requirements
Applicants are required to submit: - A completed ERC application form. - Full research protocol. - A summary of the protocol (maximum 500 words) including background, justification, objectives, methodology, and ethical considerations. - Participant information sheets, consent forms, questionnaires, and any other relevant supporting documents. - Proof of payment of the applicable processing fee (if applicable). Applications must be submitted as: - Hard copies (as specified by the ERC), and - A single combined PDF file sent via email or other method specified by the ERC Secretariat. Undergraduate student proposals must be submitted through the relevant Head of Department. Postgraduate proposals must be submitted under the responsibility of a qualified supervisor, with a covering letter indicating the degree programme.
Review Process and Meeting Schedule
The Ethics Review Committee meets monthly. • New applications: must be submitted by 4.00 pm on the 15th of each month. • Resubmissions / responses to queries: must be submitted by 4.00 pm on the 22nd of each month. • ERC meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, unless it is a public holiday. Incomplete applications or studies that have already commenced data collection prior to ethical approval will not be approved.
After Ethical Approval
Following approval: - Any amendments or extensions to the approved protocol must receive prior ERC approval before implementation. - Researchers must strictly adhere to the approved protocol and ERC guidelines. - Progress reports must be submitted at intervals specified in the approval letter (usually every 6 or 12 months). - A final completion report must be submitted at the end of the study. - All correspondence with the ERC must quote the assigned ERC reference number.
Approved Projects
Downloads
Ethics Review Application Form
(Human Research)
Ethics Review Application Form
(Animal Research)
Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form Templates
NIHS Ethics Review Committee SOP
Contact Details
Telephone:
Ethics Review Committee, National Institute of Health Sciences Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Telephone:
034 222 2264
Email:
erc@gmail.com