Research ethics & governance

Australian Genomics established a research ethics and governance network covering more than 30 sites across all states and territories to recruit participants into its clinical flagships. This was achieved by submitting the necessary research ethics and governance applications through the National Health and Medical Research Council’s National Mutual Acceptance Scheme.

Once approved, Australian Genomics coordinators managed the overarching ethics requirements while locally employed state coordinators worked with site research governance officers to gain approvals for participant recruitment. With the support of the national coordination network, 5000 Australians were recruited and received genomic sequencing through our clinical flagship studies.

This research ethics and governance network gives researchers valuable experience in meeting the ethical and governance requirements for genomic research projects within the Australian system.

Australian Genomics National Coordination Manager and state and territory coordinators are available to work with and guide researchers to initiate new multi-site studies, help navigate HREC submissions, governance site specific assessments and to review genomic research participant information sheets and consent forms.