University research policies regarding self-experimentation
To the University.
I would be grateful if you would, if possible, deal with this request under administrative arrangements rather than invoking the cumbersome machinery of the Freedom of Information/Right to Information Act.
I am seeking a copy of any policy documents that your university has (most likely with your Human Research Ethics Committee [HREC], or similar) regarding research involving self-experimentation, by which I mean those projects or experiments in which the only participant is the researcher themselves.
I am particularly interested in (i) whether your university has an explicit policy regarding self-experimentation, and (ii) whether self-experimentation requires HREC review.
Yours faithfully,
Mark R. Diamond
Good morning Mark,
Thank you for your email.
As the University is about to go into the Annual Shutdown period from
today until the 3^rd January 2023, can I please get back to you about this
in the new year?
Kind regards,
Fiona Rowley
From: Mark R. Diamond <[FOI #9730 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 21 December 2022 1:32 PM
To: Freedom of Information <[La Trobe University request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - University research policies
regarding self-experimentation
To the University.
I would be grateful if you would, if possible, deal with this request
under administrative arrangements rather than invoking the cumbersome
machinery of the Freedom of Information/Right to Information Act.
I am seeking a copy of any policy documents that your university has (most
likely with your Human Research Ethics Committee [HREC], or similar)
regarding research involving self-experimentation, by which I mean those
projects or experiments in which the only participant is the researcher
themselves.
I am particularly interested in (i) whether your university has an
explicit policy regarding self-experimentation, and (ii) whether
self-experimentation requires HREC review.
Yours faithfully,
Mark R. Diamond
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Good morning Mark,
I write to you in relation to the email you sent to the University on 21
December 2022.
Whilst the [1]National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (the
national guidelines for human research) do not specifically cover
self-experimentation, they do not distinguish between this type of
research and research that involves the recruitment of other individuals.
All human research, whether it involves the researcher as the sole
participant, or other individuals as participants, is subject to the same
ethical standards and criteria and requires review by a Human Research
Ethics Committee.
For the reason above, the LTU [2]Human Research Procedure does not
specifically cover self-experimentation, and nor does any other
operational document that we have relating to human research, as it would
be considered by the Human Research Ethics Committee via the standard
process to review the risks associated with the study and to safeguard the
safety and welfare of any participants and integrity of the research.
I hope this response answers your questions.
Kind regards,
Fiona Rowley (she/her)
Manager, Policy, Privacy & Compliance
La Trobe University
Commercial, Legal and Risk
P +61 9479 1839 | E [email address]|
[3]latrobe.edu.au
CRICOS Provider 00115M
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Thursday, 22 December 2022 10:47 AM
To: Mark R. Diamond <[FOI #9730 email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - University research policies
regarding self-experimentation
Good morning Mark,
Thank you for your email.
As the University is about to go into the Annual Shutdown period from
today until the 3^rd January 2023, can I please get back to you about this
in the new year?
Kind regards,
Fiona Rowley
From: Mark R. Diamond <[4][FOI #9730 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 21 December 2022 1:32 PM
To: Freedom of Information <[5][La Trobe University request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - University research policies
regarding self-experimentation
To the University.
I would be grateful if you would, if possible, deal with this request
under administrative arrangements rather than invoking the cumbersome
machinery of the Freedom of Information/Right to Information Act.
I am seeking a copy of any policy documents that your university has (most
likely with your Human Research Ethics Committee [HREC], or similar)
regarding research involving self-experimentation, by which I mean those
projects or experiments in which the only participant is the researcher
themselves.
I am particularly interested in (i) whether your university has an
explicit policy regarding self-experimentation, and (ii) whether
self-experimentation requires HREC review.
Yours faithfully,
Mark R. Diamond
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[6][FOI #9730 email]
Is [7][La Trobe University request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to La Trobe University? If so, please contact us using this form:
[8]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[9]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
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2. https://policies.latrobe.edu.au/document...
3. file:///tmp/latrobe.edu.au
4. mailto:[FOI #9730 email]
5. mailto:[La Trobe University request email]
6. mailto:[FOI #9730 email]
7. mailto:[La Trobe University request email]
8. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
9. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Dear Fiona,
Many thanks for your reply and for the information.
Yours sincerely,
Mark R. Diamond