Humans
Scientific Research that fall under the scope of the WMO and/or the Embryo Act (Embryowet) must first be submitted to an accredited medical research ethics committee or the
Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO), which reviews research protocols in accordance with the WMO. Research is allowed to start only after the approval by an independent committee of experts.
The Medical Ethical Committee (METc) of the UMCG is the reviewing committee for UMCG researchers. If the research has been reviewed by another committee (e.g. in case of multi-centre studies), the Board of Directors of the UMCG needs to approve the study before it can start. Before the approval, the METc office performs an administrative oversight to evaluate
local feasibility.
Within the
UMCG non-WMO system, the Central ethics Review Committee (Centrale ethische Toetsingscommissie, CTc) and Local ethics Review Committees (Lokale ethische Toetsingscommissies, LTc’s) evaluate scientific research that is outside the scope of the WMO and fits within the scope of the
nWMO Kaderreglement UMCG (UMCG only). An
online submission tool is developed to support researchers to submit their proposal for ethical review.
The Service Desk CRO can provide support with submissions if required; an offer can be requested via the helpdesk.
Animals
The
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews all animal experiments as stipulated in the Law on
Animal Experiments [PDF]. At the University of Groningen, animal experiments are carried out for purposes of research and education when there are no viable alternatives.
In the UMCG animal research is performed in the
animal research facilities.