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The Alfred Research & Ethics Unit

Guidelines for submitting applications for approval of amendments

I What do I need to submit? I Change to research personnel I Changes to consent procedures I Changes to Investigator’s Brochures (IBs) I

What do I need to submit?

Amendment applications must be submitted electronically to research@alfred.org.au according to instructions on the Request for Approval of Amendments form. We do not require hard copies.

In order to review an application, the committee members must be able to understand what changes have been made to a project, which is why documents with changes tracked are required. A document with changes tracked allows a reviewer to see both the original and the altered text; therefore clean copies are unnecessary.

Only relevant documentation is required. Material that is not relevant is not only a waste of paper but causes confusion for reviewers and ultimately slows down the entire process, resulting in delays to approval of amendments. 

All amendment applications should be either electronically signed by the Principal Researcher, or sent from the Principal Researcher's email address.

Adhering to these guidelines will result in faster and more efficient processing of amendment applications.

Changes to research personnel

It is common for changes in staff to occur throughout the life of a project. When new people join your research team or others leave, please make sure you let the Ethics Office know. 

Use the form below if there have been any changes to Principal Researcher/s, Associate Researcher/s, Research Assistant/s, Research Coordinator/s, Student Researcher/s or any other members of the research team since the project was approved.

There is no fee for approval of changes to research personnel.

If you would like approval for changes to other aspects of your project, please submit a ‘Request for Approval of Amendments’ as detailed on the Amendments page.

Changes to consent procedures

(arising from Guardianship & Administration Act changes)

Is the activity involving participants a medical research procedure (as currently defined in the Guardianship and Administration Act)?

YES:

  • Amendment application form explaining why the activity is a ‘medical research procedure’ and which steps in the Act are being proposed.
  • Module 1.21 or VSM Section 2 & 3: Complete all relevant questions.
  • Consent Guidelines for recruiting staff, detailing procedures for obtaining Person Responsible consent and (if relevant) recruitment under Procedural Authorization.
  • All appropriate PICFs based on the Clinical Research Project template.

NO:

  • Amendment application form.
  • Module 1.21(b) or VSM 2.1a)ii): Check “Other” and give details of next-of-kin/carer acknowledgment in the text box provided [refer to Module One or VSM Guidelines for further information].
  • Information Sheet** for NOK/Carer (appropriately worded) based on the Non-Clinical Research Project template, including a Third Party Acknowledgment Form and Revocation of Consent Form.
  • A Participant Continuation PICF** if the participant is likely to regain the capacity to consent while the research is still under way. 

** Note: there is no specific template provided – please adapt the wording in the main PICF template. The Clinical Research Project PICF template, however, has a specific Participant Continuation Consent Form which can be used.

Changes to Investigator’s Brochures (IBs)

Revised IBs do not need to be submitted as a formal amendment unless corresponding changes are required to the Participant Information & Consent Form (PICF).

No changes to PICF: If the changes to the IB do not require changes to the PICF, please email the Request for Review of Updated Investigator's Brochures form and attach the core documents listed below. This will be sent to a reviewer with pharmacology expertise.

Changes to PICF: If the PICF needs to be updated to include information from the revised IB, please email the revised PICF, amendment application form, and the following core documents as a formal Request for Approval of Amendments.

Core Documents:
  • Full revised IB
  • Summary of changes (if not included in the revised IB)
  • Impact Statement signed by the Principal Researcher advising whether, or not, the changes may have an impact on Alfred Health participants

Please note that revised IBs are acknowledged by return email rather than 'approved', and will not be listed on the Certificate of Approval of Amendments.

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This page was last modified on 27-02-12

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