Human Research Ethics Review

The first step to commencing a Research Project is for researchers to obtain ethics approval.

The Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) are certified under the National Mutual Acceptance (NMA) Scheme and the NHMRC National Certification Scheme to review:

  • Clinical trials phase 0, I, II, III, IV
  • Clinical trials drugs and devices
  • Clinical interventional research other than clinical trials
  • Population health and/or public health
  • Mental health
  • Paediatric research

Researchers seeking HREC review from the Monash Health HRECs, please check:

Researchers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and book their applications well in advance, as available booking slots typically fill up 3 months before the meeting. For HREC meetings marked as fully booked, unfortunately there is no capacity to accept additional booking requests.

If these timelines are not suitable, you may wish to approach another NMA-certified HREC that can accommodate review of your application sooner.

If a researcher has obtained HREC approval from another NMA-certified HREC, Monash Health will not duplicate HREC review and will only require an application for Site Specific Authorisation (SSA) prior to commencing the project at Monash Health.

HREC meeting availability and Submission Deadlines 2025/2026

*Please note, early phase trials and GMO/gene therapy trials have different submission deadlines and additional steps involved. For more information, please refer to the Monash Health Early Phase Clinical Trials Policy & Procedure and Monash Health GMO and Gene Therapy Trials Policy & Procedure.

2025

Booking availability (last updated 25 November 2025) Submission deadline* HREC Meeting date
FULLY BOOKED 17 September 2025 02 October 2025
FULLY BOOKED 15 October 2025 06 November 2025
FULLY BOOKED 19 November 2025 04 December 2025

2026

Booking availability (last updated 25 November 2025) Submission deadline* HREC Meeting date
FULLY BOOKED 21 January 2026 05 February 2026
FULLY BOOKED 18 February 2026 05 March 2026
Booking slots available 23 March 2026 16 April 2026
Booking slots available 22 April 2026 07 May 2026
Booking slots available 20 May 2026 04 June 2026
Booking slots available 17 June 2026 02 July 2026
Booking slots available 22 July 2026 06 August 2026
Booking slots available 19 August 2026 03 September 2026
Booking slots available 16 September 2026 01 October 2026
Booking slots available 14 October 2026 05 November 2026
Booking slots available 18 November 2026 03 December 2026

Booking Instructions

To request a booking, please email research@monashhealth.org with the following information:

  • Project Title
  • Brief Lay Summary of the Project
  • Name and Contact Details of Principal Investigator (including email address)
  • ERM Project ID (even if not submitted yet, ERM will have automatically created this)
  • Proposed HREC Meeting Date
  • List of proposed Participating Sites (e.g. Monash Health, Eastern Health, Peninsula Health, etc.)
  • If known, a list of the documents that will be submitted

A booking is only required for new applications. A booking is not required for responses to HREC Outcome Letters. If the letter indicates that the revised application requires review by the full Committee, the applicant must follow the advertised submission deadlines.

⚠️ Please note: If your application is not booked in advance, the Research Support Services cannot guarantee it will be included in the agenda. If the cap has been reached, the application will be allocated to the next available meeting, or you may choose to submit it to another HREC.

Submission Process

Step 1
Researchers are asked to lodge a Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) form via ERM https://au.forms.ethicalreviewmanager.com/Account/Login

 

Step 2
Please ensure that all study documents for ethical review are attached to the application. This includes Victorian Specific Module (VSM), Protocol, Participant Information and Consent Forms and other patient-facing materials, Waiver of Consent letter etc.

 

Step 3
The complete application must be submitted in ERM by the submission deadline, and an email advising of the ERM submission sent to research@monashhealth.org.

The email must include the following:

  • Study Title
  • ERM Project ID
  • Monash Health Reference (provided to researchers when a booking is made)
  • A list of all the documents being submitted (including the document title, version, and date)
  • Monash Health New Project Fee Form (if applicable)

The only documents submitted in hard copy will be legal documents, such as the HREC Review Only Form of Indemnity, if commercial sponsors prefer a wet ink signature.

 

Need further information
Email us at research@monashhealth.org. Please note, that whilst our staff are able to meet with researchers prior to a submission, we strongly suggest making an appointment first and sharing a list of your queries.

Committee Membership

Committee membership is constituted in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NHMRC, 2007 – updated 2023) and consists of lay members, a Lawyer, a Minister of Religion and members representing the relevant disciplines, who have scientific/research backgrounds.

The representative of the relevant department/discipline may be approached by the researcher prior to the committee meeting to ensure that the representative (or his/her alternate) will be in attendance at the meeting. They will be able to provide further information on the committee, the interview and procedures to be followed.

Each committee comprises of:

  • a chairperson
  • at least two members who are lay people, one man and one woman, who have no affiliation with the institution and do not currently engage in medical, scientific, legal or academic work
  • at least two members with current research experience that is relevant to research proposals to be considered at the meetings they attend
  • at least one member with knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people; for example, a nurse or allied health professional
  • at least one member who performs a pastoral care role in a community, for example, an Aboriginal elder, a minister of religion
  • at least one member who is a lawyer.

Requests from Pharmaceutical Companies for lists of HREC members’ names and positions are quite common. Researchers are advised that it is a policy of the Board of Monash Health that this information cannot in any circumstances be released. However, a standard letter is provided at the time of final approval, stating that the committee is legally constituted in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NHMRC, 2023). This is acceptable to pharmaceutical companies.

Human Research Ethics Committee – Terms of Reference 2025