Research Integrity

The University Research Integrity Committee (URIC)

The University Research & Innovation Committee (UR&IC) – which has overall responsibility for research integrity at NTU – has delegated powers to the University Research Integrity Committee (URIC) to provide strategic oversight and leadership of research integrity and the ecosystem which supports it. You can find out more about the URIC’s Terms of Reference and Committee membership from the drop-down sections below.

To oversee and support the development, review and evaluation of robust research integrity policies, procedures and systems.
To consider the implications for NTU of any changes in the research integrity policy and regulatory landscape.
To identify and direct research integrity training resources and provision.
To receive and consider annual reports from Research Ethics Committees (RECs) reporting to URIC.
To promote good practice and identify opportunities to enhance a research culture underpinned by high standards of research integrity.
To provide advice to RECs or individuals on matters of research integrity.
To act as a point of arbitration on matters arising in RECs.
To oversee an annual process of audit of research projects approved by RECs reporting to URIC.
To produce the Annual Statement on Research Integrity for consideration and ratification by URC.

Research Governance and Policy Manager (Chair)
Chairs of NTU Research Ethics Committees reporting directly to URIC
An external member from outside academia
Doctoral School Manager
Research Data Management Officer
Research and Business Manager, John van Geest Cancer Research Centre
A School Associate Dean for Research
Research Governance and REF Coordinator (Secretariat)

All individuals involved in research in the name of University are expected to be aware of and uphold the standards required of them when conducting research. Allegations of unacceptable behaviour in the conduct of research by staff or students will be managed in a consistent, transparent, and equitable manner within the framework of our policies and procedures.

For staff undertaking research at, or in the name of, the University any allegations of research misconduct are dealt with through the University’s Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.
For research students undertaking research in the name of University, allegations of misconduct are dealt with through the University’s Academic Standards and Quality Handbook (Section 17D: University Procedure for Investigating Alleged Research Misconduct).
For taught students at the University, allegations relating to research misconduct are dealt through the University’s Academic Standards and Quality Handbook (Section 17C: Academic Irregularities).

In line with the Concordat to support research integrity, a short statement on research integrity and misconduct is produced annually and presented to the University’s Academic Board and Board of Governors. The annual statement for 2021/2022 is published below, along with statements from previous years:

Code of Practice

Our Code of Practice for Research is relevant to all individuals involved in research in the name of the University irrespective of the discipline or field of research. The document outlines the principles of practice and conduct by which the University expects research to be carried out in the name of the University.

Read the Code of Practice for Research

A range of free, online training resources relating to all aspects of research integrity – including ethics, data management, library skills, academic writing, and research methods – are available to all staff and students who are conducting research in the name of the University.

If you're a researcher at NTU, head to MyHub to access these resources.

Visit MyHub

NTU has been a subscriber to the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) since 2012. The UKRIO is an independent advisory body, offering support to the public, researchers, and organisations to further good practice in research. A registered charity, it was created in response to longstanding and growing concerns about the reliability of research. UKRIO is the UK’s most experienced research integrity organisation. Since 2006, it has provided independent and expert support across all disciplines of research: from the arts and humanities to the life sciences. It works to enhance good research practice, address mistakes, questionable practices and fraud, and improve the culture and systems of UK research. Find out more about research integrity.

NTU is committed to protecting the rights, dignity, safety, and the privacy of research subjects; the wellbeing of animals; the environment; minimising the risks to the health and safety of researchers, as well as maintaining academic freedom. To ensure this commitment is realised, NTU operates a Research Ethics Policy and Procedure, which is applicable to all those conducting research within or on behalf of the University. This requires an ethical review of all research projects involving primary research with human beings or their data, irrespective of funding source.

Research ethics exist to promote high standards of behaviour in the conduct of research involving humans and animals through an awareness of relevant values, principles and rules. NTU’s research ethics seek to protect the interest of participants whilst facilitating research with legitimate social value, and to ensure the burdens and benefits of the research are fairly distributed.

Research Ethics Committees

Numerous Research Ethics Committees (RECs) currently exist at NTU to review and provide an ethics opinion on prospective research projects. Where a project requires review by an REC, no data collection should commence until a favourable opinion has been provided. However, even when a favourable ethics opinion has been received, researchers are encouraged to ensure other necessary governance agreements are in place before data collection begins. Failure to do so may constitute a breach of integrity.

Our RECs currently in operation at NTU can be found in the drop-down section below. These RECs review applications from staff and doctoral candidates. Information on RECs receiving applications from undergraduate and taught postgraduate students is provided below as well.

Chair: Dr Imad El-Anis
imad.el-anis@ntu.ac.uk

Administrator: Annabel Cali
annabel.cali@ntu.ac.uk

This committee accepts applications from staff and doctoral candidates based in Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Law School, and the School of Social Sciences including the Nottingham Institute of Education.

Chair: Amy Twigger Holroyd
amy-twigger.holroyd@ntu.ac.uk

Administrator: Annabel Cali
annabel.cali@ntu.ac.uk

This committee accepts applications from staff and doctoral candidates based in the Schools of Art and Design, Arts and Humanities, and Architecture, Design and the Built Environment.

Chair: Antonio Uzal
antonio.uzal@ntu.ac.uk

Administrator: Nicholas Midgley
nicholas.midgley@ntu.ac.uk

This committee accepts applications from staff, doctoral candidates, postgraduate taught and undergraduate students based in the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences.

Chair: Professor Craig Sale
craig.sale@ntu.ac.uk

Administrator: Dianne Levey
dianne.levey@ntu.ac.uk

This committee accepts applications from staff, doctoral candidates, postgraduate taught and undergraduate students from across the University who are undertaking research requiring invasive sample collection procedures.

Chair: Dr Ruth James
ruth.james@ntu.ac.uk

Administrator: Georgina Green-Stone
sst.ethics@ntu.ac.uk

This committee accepts applications from staff, doctoral candidates, postgraduate taught and undergraduate students from the School of Science and Technology who are undertaking research which does not require invasive sample collection procedures. Applications from researchers in other Schools may, at the request of other REC chairs, be referred to the committee for review.

Any enquiries at Nottingham Trent University relating to research integrity, including those of confidential nature, should be addressed to Anton Muszanskyj (Research Governance & Policy Manager).

Research Governance

Our Research Office oversees the development of research policies and strategies and ensures that our research meets the highest ethical standards.

Support for Researchers

Details about training support, Worktribe and other professional development opportunities for our researchers.

Research Integrity

The University Research Integrity Committee (URIC)

Research conduct

Annual Statement on Research Integrity

Code of Practice