NSW Health Pathology Research Governance

For NSW Health Pathology employees; research governance will apply to all human research undertaken within NSW Health Pathology facilities and the NSW Health Statewide Biobank, involving NSW Health Pathology employees as investigators.The Research Governance Office is now reviewing all human research undertaken within NSW Health Pathology facilities and conducted by NSWPH employees as part of their employment with NSW Health Pathology. This research (including NSW Health’s Statewide Biobank) now requires NSW Health Pathology to be listed as a ‘Site’ in REGIS.

For research collaborations between NSW Health Pathology employees and non-NSW Health Pathology researchers: NSW Health Pathology should now be listed as a ‘Site’ in all Human Research Ethics Applications (HREAs) where a NSW Health Pathology employee is involved as an investigator.

In cases where NSW Health Pathology employees are not involved in research as an investigator or collaborating partner, NSW Health Pathology will recognise this as a service for non-NSW Health Pathology researchers.

For non-NSW Health Pathology researchers; research governance will apply when a non-NSW Health Pathology researcher collaborates with one or more NSW Health Pathology employees as investigators, and uses a NSW Health Pathology site or requires access to pathology data for research.

This applies to all NSW Health Pathology sites and facilities including:

– Clinical Services

– Forensic and Analytical Services (FASS)

– NSW Health Pathology’s Statewide Biobank

• For clinical service requests (i.e. pathology analysis/FASS/Statewide Biobank): Clinical service requests (not involving NSW Health Pathology employees as investigators) should be made to the NSW Health Pathology Research Coordinators (refer to the Information Sheet below for further information). Applications will be reviewed and approved by the relevant NSW Health Pathology Clinical and Operations Directors and work will commence under a Service Level Agreement. 

• For data requests not involving NSW Health Pathology employees as research investigators: Data requests should be made to the NSW Health Pathology Research Governance Office (details below). Applications will be reviewed and approved by the Chief Executive (identifiable data) or the Executive Director of Clinical Governance and Quality (de-identified data).

Depending on the type of data request, approval may be under an Authority for Data Release Authorisation and Disclosure of Information Form.

FURTHER INFORMATION: 

· Please refer to the Information Sheet and FAQ's document for further informaton and contact details of the Research Coordinators.  

· Other information and advice can be found on the NSWHP website at: 
www.pathology.health.nsw.gov.au/research-and-innovation/research-governance

· If researchers have any questions about research governance in NSW Health Pathology, the Research Governance Officer is available on the details below.

Andrew Harre

Research Governance Officer NSW Health Pathology

Phone: (02) 9464 4766

Email: NSWPath-RGO@health.nsw.gov.au