From 1 January 2021 onwards, the policy described in the document 'Principles and requirements pertaining to Research Ethics Review at Erasmus University Rotterdam' applies.
You can submit an application in Ethics Monitor. Please note: instructions for submitting an application for ethical review are different per committee. See the links below for more information on each committee.
Erasmus University Rotterdam underpins the importance of an ethical review of research projects prior to starting the research. In line with the diversity of research disciplines, Erasmus University Rotterdam has several Research Ethics Review Committees / Internal Review Boards.
When starting an employment relation with EUR, employees confirm that they will act in compliance with the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity.
Research Ethics Review Committees (RERC) / Internal Review Boards (IRB)
Each RERC / IRB ethics committee has developed its own discipline-specific procedure. However, in line with the policy document, an ethical review is required when research includes one of the following elements:
- human beings;
- (special categories of) personal data;
- non-EU countries;
- environment, health & safety issues, including potential harm to researchers;
- potential misuse of research results;
- potential conflict of interest;
- external stakeholders, among which funding organisations.
Research conducted by EUR researchers that falls under the Dutch Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act needs to undergo ethical review by the Medical Ethics Review Committee (METC). This is the case when:
- medical research is proposed in which people are subject to acts; and
- rules of behaviour are prescribed to people.
*Both the METC and EUR Research Ethics Review Committees can evaluate whether a research proposal falls under this Act. Studies that do not fall under this Act can be reviewed by a EUR Research Ethics Review Committee.
Research conducted by EUR researchers that involve animals needs to undergo ethical review by the Animal Welfare Body (Instantie voor Dierenwelzijn (IvD)).
In all cases where data is collected or used, a data management plan is essential. For general information, please contact: ethics@eur.nl.
For medically oriented projects, the first step is to make clear whether the project needs to be reviewed according to the WMO (Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act). This is done by the chairs of the Medical Internal Review Board (METC) of Erasmus MC. On the website of Erasmus MC, you can find the WMO criteria (only available in Dutch).
Projects that need to be reviewed according to the WMO go through the Medical Ethical Review Committee (METC in Dutch). On the website of Erasmus MC you will find more information and contact details (only available in Dutch).
For medically oriented research for which the WMO criteria do not apply, but does contain ethical components, information on how to act is available on the website of Erasmus MC (only available in Dutch).
RSM has two Internal review boards:
Follow the links to learn more about the board and the procedure.
Researchers that make use of the Erasmus Behavioural Lab require approval for their research plan from the Internal Review Board for Experimental Research.
Researchers that conduct research outside of the Erasmus Behavioural Lab, but need IRB approval as well, can submit to the Internal Review Board for Non-experimental research.
For information on ethical review at ESHPM, please visit: https://my.eur.nl/en/eshpm-employee/ethical-review
For information on ethical review at ESHCC, please visit: https://my.eur.nl/en/eshcc-employee/research/ethics-privacy-data-management
For information on ethical review at ESL, please visit: https://my.eur.nl/en/esl-employee/research/research-services/ethics-review-committee
For information on ethical review at ESPhil, please visit: https://my.eur.nl/en/esphil-employee/research/research-ethics-review-committee
IHS researchers can contact: Annette van Engen: vanengen@ihs.nl.