In response to feedback from users and reviewers and in line with our commitment to continue to look for ways to improve the ethics review process changes to the Ethics@Bath form have been introduced as follows:
The most significant change relates to how studies involving secondary data about humans that is fully anonymised and/or is in the public domain are going to be reviewed. As recommended by the Academic Ethics and Integrity Committee, these type of projects will no longer require committee level review and as such can be considered at a Departmental level. The workflows have been updated so that the triage continues to be automated. For more information on working with and analysing secondary data please see our guidance page.
In response to recommendations from Internal Audit, a Human Tissue risk assessment form has been introduced. We are rolling out this risk assessment form as a pilot in the first instance and are very much open to feedback on the form and its contents.
We have also taken this opportunity to add two new sets of questions to allow for declarations about the use of Generative AI (GenAI) tools —both within the research project and in the preparation of the ethics application.
As ethics forms are no longer required at the pre-award stage, the PAM section has been removed.
Minor changes to wording to improve readability.
Minor updates to guidance including revision of hyperlinks in line with best practice.
The new form will go live on Wednesday 10th September 2025.
What you need to do
If you have started a form before Wednesday, 10th September but are yet to submit it:
When logging in on or after Wednesday, 10th September you will see the message below at the top of your form: "Note: There is a newer version of the project. Update"
Please click "Update" at the top of the page so that the form can be updated before submission.
If your form is with a 2nd reader or with a Supervisor:
When logging in on or after Wednesday, 10th September you will see the message below at the top of your form: "Warning: The project owner must update your project in order to submit this form. Update"
In this case the applicant will need to click on "Update" and then re-sign and re-request the required signatures before the application can be submitted.