The UKTRC only supports activities which are conducted in line with the principles of the ESRC Research Ethics Framework, namely:

• Research design for integrity and quality
• Staff and subjects must be fully informed about what any participation entails and risks associated with it
• Confidentiality and anonymity will be respected
• Harm to participants must be avoided
• Independence of research must be clear and any conflicts of interest must be explicit

The responsibility for the conduct of research in line with these principles rests with the principal investigator. Within UKTRC, ethics assessments are made at the institution that is lead for a particular research grant in line with their university’s research principles (e.g. see http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/secretariat/ policiesandpublications/otherpolicies/properscientificconduct/). Research proposals should therefore seek approval, through a Research Ethics Committee (REC). The Executive Board of UKTRC has put in place a procedure to check that appropriate ethics permission has been sought before funds are issued. All activities within UKTRC must also comply with the legal requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.