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Animal Research Ethics Committee (AREC)
All research and teaching activities involving animals under the auspices of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg requires ethics clearance from the AREC.
How to Apply?
- Use the new online Ethics system, Infonetica to submit applications. Find out how here.
- Applicants can self-register, save, download, and submit their online ethic applications for approval to the various ethics committees
- It is very important that you first read the Guidelines for completion of applications to Animal Research Ethics Committee
- Applicants seeking information on the Animal Research Ethics can email to Dept-Secretary-AREC@wits.ac.za or Shaun.Schoeman@wits.ac.za - 011 717 1408 or mmatshepo.taunyane@wits.ac.za - 011 717 1788
Downloads:
- AREC Submission Dates 2025
- Application for approval to undertake a sugical training course using animals
- Application For Adaptations Or Modifications And Extensions To Experiments
- Planning studies or teaching activities
- Guidelines for studies at more than one institution
- SA National Standard on the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes
- Guidelines for Section 20 Applicants
- Section 20 Application Form
- Section 20 of the Animal Diseases Act - 1984
- Vet vs Non-Vet Procedures
- SAVC GUIDELINE FOR AUTHORISATION
- SAVC_Employee Employer Supervision Agreement
- SAVC - Table of Approved Protocols
- FR-SL.I004_study log index
- 1 FR-SL.FC001_study log front cover
- 2 SOP-G.FR001_guidelines for filling form records
- 3 FR-SL.SR002_study record
- 4 FR-SL.WR003_weight recordsheet
- 5 FR-SL.WM002B_welfare monitoring CatB group
- 5 FR-SL.WM003C_welfare monitoring CatC group
- 5 FR-SL.WS008_welfare scoresheet
- 6 FR-SL.SS007_study summary
- 7 R-VR.SP002 sedation and preparation
- 8 R-VR.DL004_drug list
- 9 R-VR.PA003_procedure and anaesthetic
- 12 FR-SL.RS006 record of signatures
- 13 R-VR.TL006 treatment record
- 14 R-VR.HN001_history and necropsy
- 15 FR-SL.TR010_training compitence register
- 2a AREC Classification of Severity Categories in Animal Research
- 3a Annexure A AREC Incident Report
- 3a Annexure B AREC Incident Investigation_Annexure B V2
- 3a Annexure C AREC Formal Inquiry_Annexure C V2
- 3a AREC Policy Incident_Adverse event_Non-compliance
- SAVC 2021 APR 21_Updated Veterinary VS Non-Veterinary Procedures Table_FINAL
- SAVC Application Form_Authorisation_Veterinarians and Para-vets_Editable
- SAVC Supervision Agreement_Editable
- 1a AREC AECC ToR
- 1a AREC SOP
- 1a Code of Conduct
- EIT Workshop Application to undertake surgical training course using animals
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Biobanks Ethics Committee
Reviews all applications for the establishment of biobanks and to make recommendations to the HREC (Medical); and to review all research using tissue samples and / or associated data from approved biobanks and make recommendations to the HREC (Medical).
How to apply?
For enquiries regarding progress or outcome of ethics application contact the Research Administrator – Mrs Tanya Coetzee or Mr Rhulani Mkansi via email: HREC-Medical.BEC@wits.ac.za or Tel: 011 717 2816/1234
Application Forms:
- BEC 1 Application: Application for registration of a Biobank/ Biorepository /Databank. BEC 1 applications must be submitted in hard copy (1 x copy of an application form and all the required/supporting documents) at our offices and via e-mail: HREC-Medical.BEC@wits.ac.za *BEC 1 applications are subject to the published monthly closing dates.
- BEC 2 Application: Application for, storage, retrieval or transfer of biological samples and data at an approved Biobank. Study Ethics Clearance Certificate by the Medical Ethics Committee is required (no BEC 2 applications should be submitted without an Ethics Clearance Certificate and finalised supporting documents). BEC 2 applications must be submitted in hard copy (1 x copy of an application form and all the final required/supporting documents) at our offices and via e-mail: HREC-Medical.BEC@wits.ac.za at any time, i.e. BEC 2 applications are not subject to the published monthly closing dates.
Guidelines and Policies
Downloads
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Human Research Ethics Committee (Non-Medical)
All research activities under the auspices of the University of the Witwatersrand requires ethics clearance from the HREC (non-medical) if it involves humans participants; and if the research includes social, educational and/or psychological behaviour or perceptions, personal data required by an institution.
How to apply?
- A new online Ethics Management System (EMS) with Ethics User Guide is available on link: https://www.witsethics.co.za/Login.aspx
- Applicants can self-register, save, download, and submit their online ethic applications for approval to the various ethics committees.
Please contact Mokgaetsi Madubanya, mokgaetsi.madubanya@wits.ac.za - 011 717 1408, Shaun Schoeman shaun.schoeman@wits.ac.za - 011 717 1408 or Mmatshepo Taunyane, mmatshepo.taunyane@wits.ac.za - 011 717 1788 for queries.
Downloads
- HREC (NON-MED) Meeting Dates - 2026
- Terms of Reference
- Standard Operating Procedures SOP of the Human Research Ethics Committee
- Appeals form
- Ethics complaint structure
- Ethics complaints form
- Example of a Consent Form
- Example of a Participant Information Sheet
- Example of letter requesting permission
- Example of Consent Form for 1 child’s parent or guardian
- Ethics handling of Honours and MCWRR projects by Schools
- Guidance on the use of Permission letters
- Guidelines for amendments
- Risk Table
- Wits Research Integrity Guidelines & Procedures
- Wits Research Integrity Policy
- HREC Progress Report Form
- Signature page when making a Non Medical ethics application
- FORM A Request from Hons, Masters & PhD students or staff to conduct research
- FORM B Request to conduct research (Non Wits staff and students)
- Guidelines for completion of applications to Human Ethics (Non-Medical) Committe
- Guidelines for observations
- Distress Protocol
- Ethics training guidelines
- Transparency in Ethical Research
- Guidelines for the Reporting and Management of Serious Adverse Events
- Serious Adverse Event (SAE) Reporting Form
- Guidelines to conduct research in GDE institutions
- GDE - Research Request Form
- Statement on Retrospective Applications
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Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
Biosafety is concerned with the containment methods required when managing parasites, infectious agents and infected or potentially infected animals, tissues or other materials. The purpose is to reduce exposure of laboratory workers, other persons and the outside environment, to potentially hazardous agents.
Four principles of biomedical ethics are generally recognised:- autonomy (respect for the person - a notion of human dignity
- beneficence (benefit to the research participant)
- non-maleficence (absence of harm to the participant)
- justice (notably distributive justice - equal distribution of risks and benefits between communities
Worker and public safety is of paramount concern. Workers must be adequately trained and provided with a working environment in which the necessary facilities and equipment are available. If this is done and the guidelines below are observed, risk to the public will be minimised.
- Please contact Mmatshepo Taunyane at mmatshepo.taunyane@wits.ac.za or 011 717 1788 for queries.
When considering research protocols, the Biosafety Committee is involved in various processes, including risk assessment, which would include, but not be limited to:
- concentration and quantity of organisms
- stability and viability of organism
- potential for transmission, by contact or aerosol
- nature of the work
- specific risks associated with genetically-modified organisms (GMO s)
- risk of harmful bi-products
- risk of unknown contaminants
Downloads
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Research Integrity - Wits Policy
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits, or the University), is a research intensive university that strives for excellence in research as part of the broader scope of scholarly endeavour. Research is understood to be the process of thorough investigation, systematic discovery and/or rigorous analysis that aims to uncover the truth, produce a deeper understanding and/or create new knowledge.
- Click here Wits Research Integrity Policy
- Click here: Wits Research Integrity Procedures
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Ethics in Health Research
Health research is vital for the advancement of health care services for the people of South Africa. Because of its excellent health care and research infrastructure, skills and expertise, South Africa provides a rich arena for health and health-related research.
Click here: Ethics in Health Research Principles, Processes and Structures
Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical)
The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (Medical), is an independent committee which provides ethics approval and oversight for all research at the University of a medical nature involving human beings, and has two secretariats with differing roles, one for university-based research for degree and non-degree purposes, based in the PV Tobias Building, and one for complex grant-funded and commercial research, based at the Wits Health Consortium (WHC). Both secretariats form part of HREC (Medical) and are not two separate HRECs (Medical).
Application forms for degree and non-degree HREC (Medical) applications
The application forms listed below include a description of their purpose and submission requirements. Please refer to the appendix of each form for the relevant checklist and guidance notes. Read the descriptions below and click to download the relevant document.
Note: The checklist/guideline document is attached to the application forms.
Grant and commercially funded research applications
All studies involving research grants, funding, budgets, insurances, reimbursements, collaborators, etc., being of medium to high risk to very high risk, go through the WHC-based secretariat due to their obvious complexity, allowing the faculty-based secretariat to deal with all the university-based degree and non-degree studies. The faculty-based research office deals with 50 – 100 applications per month, mainly for under- and postgraduate research but also non-degree-research. The more complex funded projects which fall under the WHC-based secretariat deals with 10-15 applications per month.
Click on the link to apply for funded applications: https://www.witshealth.co.za/Services/Research-Ethics .