The Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) Low Risk Ethics Panel (LREP) reviews new and existing lower-risk research, evaluation and quality assurance activities involving humans and/or their data.
The Panel ensures these activities are conducted in accordance with relevant ethical standards and provides ethical review for eligible activities involving DSTG staff, infrastructure or funding. This includes activities conducted in partnership with universities and industry.
Functions
Before DSTG staff commence a research, evaluation or quality assurance activity involving humans and/or their data, applicants complete an application form to determine the most appropriate ethical review pathway.
Application forms can be requested from the DSTG Low Risk Ethics Panel.
The Panel carries out a range of functions:
- Reviews lower-risk research, evaluation and quality assurance activities involving DSTG staff, infrastructure or funding.
- Determines the appropriate ethical review pathway for submitted activities.
- Conducts full or express assessments of eligible low-risk activities.
- Reviews activities undertaken in partnership with universities and industry.
- Provides feedback to Principal Investigators following assessment.
Activities are registered, confirmed as low risk, and then undergo either a full or an express LREP assessment.
Membership
The DSTG LREP Executive comprises a Chair, Deputy Chair(s) and Secretariat. The Panel consists of volunteer DSTG staff from all levels.
An assigned LREP review team assess applications and inform Principal Investigators of the outcome of their application and provides feedback where required.
Compliance and governance
The DTSG LREP assess applications on a rolling basis. Confirmed low-risk activities can access Express Review for 10-day turnaround to first feedback, while Full LREP review takes 6 to 8 weeks.
LREP also manages a Registration/Oversight function, which uses the application form to identify projects needing LREP follow-up. The LREP executive team meets once a month to consider applications and oversight matters. For guidance on preparing and submitting an ethics application, applicants can contact the DTSG LREP team via email.
The LREP review and approval process supports compliance with: