About HREC

The TUT Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is a Senate sub-committee established in terms of Section 73 of the National Health Act (2003). Its purpose is to ensure that all research involving humans, their data, or biological materials is conducted ethically, responsibly, and with full respect for participants’ rights.

The Committee is composed of a diverse membership that includes academic experts, statisticians, legal representatives, health professionals, lay community members, and student representatives. This diversity ensures that we can evaluate both the scientific and ethical dimensions of research proposals, as well as consider the perspectives of the broader community.

The HREC is accountable to the Senate of TUT, reports annually to the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC), and aligns its work with international ethical frameworks such as the Belmont Report, the Declaration of Helsinki, and the CIOMS Guidelines.

Our responsibilities include:

• Reviewing all applications for ethical clearance and amendments
• Monitoring approved research projects through passive and active reporting mechanisms
• Investigating complaints of misconduct and administrative concerns
• Providing ethics education and training to researchers, supervisors, and students

Through this mandate, the HREC protects participants while fostering responsible research that contributes to societal advancement.