Official government website of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
Standing Subcommittees on Research Ethics
Subcommittees specialize in reviewing and approving research ethics, issuing ethical approvals, and monitoring researchers' compliance with post-approval requirements, in accordance with approved regulations and controls.
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When do you need ethical approval?
- Before starting any research within a scope that requires ethical review.
- For research addressing health/biological aspects or involving living organisms.
- For research conducted using laboratory animals.
- For research that may cause environmental damage.
- When the scientific journal or the supporting entity requires ethical approval.
What types of research require submission?
Includes, but is not limited to, research addressing human and health aspects, research conducted using experimental animals, and research that may cause environmental damage.
Application steps to obtain approval
1
Register with the National Bioethics Committee, complete the training course offered by the National Bioethics Committee, and attach the completion certificate with the submitted application.
2
Fill out the electronic approval request form, according to the committee's jurisdiction, attached to the committee documents below, completing all data and requirements; incomplete requests will not be considered.
Timeline to get approval after submitting the application
The request is being reviewed by the committee secretariat to ensure it meets the necessary requirements.
The request is referred to the referees for ethical review and determination of the appropriate course of action for the request before it is presented to the committee.
The application is presented to the committee if all necessary requirements have been met and any comments or modifications (if any) have been addressed.
The ethical approval decision will be issued after all necessary procedures are completed and approved within one month from the date of application completion.
The Principal Investigator is notified of the committee's decision electronically via email.
Important Alerts
- Ethical approval is a prerequisite before commencing a study or collecting data, and it is not granted retroactively.
The researcher is committed to informing the relevant committee of any substantial changes to the study after approval has been granted, and to obtaining its approval before implementation. - The researcher is obligated to submit periodic or final reports, according to the committee's requirements and the approval conditions.
- The research entity and the researcher are responsible for adhering to the regulations governing research ethics.
- Committees shall maintain the confidentiality of all information and documents submitted to them, and shall use them only for the purposes of ethical review.
- Committees reserve the right to request any additional information or documents if they deem it necessary to complete the review process.
- The approval of ethics committees does not substitute for any other regulatory or administrative approvals that the nature of the research may require.
- All applications are subject to review according to the principles of justice, impartiality, and independence, without discrimination between researchers or research entities.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I apply for ethics committee approval?
Before commencing any research that falls within the scope of ethical review, especially research that addresses health/biological aspects, involves living beings, or may result in environmental impact.
What types of research require submission to the committee?
What are the consequences of not getting approval from the ethics committee?
How long does the approval process take?
After getting approval, what should I do?
It is not permissible to directly search a person without obtaining informed consent as stipulated in the implementing regulations. Please refer to the requirements for informed consent via the designated links.
What systemic references are available for review?
The executive regulations for the Research Ethics System on Living Organisms and the Research Ethics System on Living Organisms can be accessed via the official links.
Standing Subcommittee on Bioethics and Health Research
A committee responsible for reviewing the ethics of health and biological research, verifying its compliance with ethical standards, ensuring respect for human rights and privacy, and for animal rights and welfare, issuing ethical approvals, and monitoring adherence to post-approval requirements.
Jurisdiction
- Research on humans or health data or biological samples.
- Clinical/laboratory studies with a health or biological dimension.
- Research on living organisms in the health/biosphere domain.
Committee Objectives
- Ensuring the researcher's commitment to the Sharia, regulatory, and ethical controls approved in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Protecting the rights, dignity, and safety of research participants, while maintaining their privacy and data confidentiality.
- Promoting animal welfare and ensuring adherence to ethical guidelines governing research involving animals or other living creatures.
- Ensure necessary equipment is available and suitable to guarantee the safety of study cases.
Application Requirements
Research plan.
Study instrument: (questionnaire, interview questions, or other) in its final form.
Committee Application Form.
Informed consent form.
Curriculum Vitae of the Principal Investigator (and co-investigators, if any).
Certificate of the Scientific Research Ethics course is valid.
Notice: All attachments must be submitted in PDF format, and incomplete applications will not be considered.
General inquiries or technical support
Standing Subcommittee on Applied Research Ethics
A committee responsible for reviewing the ethics of applied research, verifying its compliance with ethical standards, and ensuring its consideration for individual rights and data privacy, as well as the safety of the community and environment, before its implementation, issuing ethical approvals, and monitoring adherence to post-approval requirements.
Committee Objectives
- Ensuring the researcher's commitment to the Sharia, regulatory, and ethical controls approved in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Protecting individuals' rights, privacy, and data confidentiality in research involving data collection, processing, or use.
- Promoting responsible research practices and adhering to principles of integrity and transparency in the implementation of applied research.
- Mitigate potential risks to individuals, society, and the environment, and ensure that safety requirements are considered in applied research.
Jurisdiction
- Applied research in engineering/computer science/science.
- Projects involving the collection of data from individuals or entities (privacy/data protection).
- Experiments or models that may be related to user or environmental safety.
Application Requirements
Research plan.
Study instrument: (questionnaire, interview questions, or other) in its final form.
Committee Application Form.
Informed consent form.
Curriculum Vitae of the Principal Investigator (and co-investigators, if any).
Certificate of the Scientific Research Ethics course is valid.
Notice: All attachments must be submitted in PDF format, and incomplete applications will not be considered.
Submitting to the committee
Requests are sent after completing the requirements to the committee's official email (ar.ethics@qu.edu.sa) and the subject line should be "Regarding the study tool for researcher..........".
Requests are sent after completing the requirements to the committee's official email (ar.ethics@qu.edu.sa) and the subject line should be "Regarding the study tool for researcher..........".
General inquiries or technical support
Standing Subcommittee on Ethics of Theoretical and Humanistic Research
A committee responsible for reviewing the ethics of theoretical and humanitarian research, verifying its compliance with ethical standards, ensuring the alignment of scientific research with national regulations and the values of the academic community, issuing ethical approvals, and monitoring adherence to post-approval requirements.
Committee Objectives
- Ensuring the researcher's commitment to the Sharia, regulatory, and ethical controls approved in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Ensuring that theoretical and humanitarian research aligns with national systems, the values of the academic community, and relevant ethical standards.
- Establishing the principles of scientific integrity and research ethics in theoretical and humanistic research.
- Contributing to improving the quality of research outputs for graduate students, faculty members, and university staff.
Scope of Jurisdiction (Examples):
- Humanities, Social Sciences, and Educational Research.
- Surveys and interviews and field studies (informed consent/confidentiality).
- Research requiring additional controls related to data protection and participant confidentiality.
Application Requirements
Research plan.
Study instrument: (questionnaire, interview questions, or other) in its final form.
Committee Application Form.
Informed consent form.
Curriculum Vitae of the Principal Investigator (and co-investigators, if any).
Certificate of the Scientific Research Ethics course is valid.
Notice: All attachments must be submitted in PDF format, and incomplete applications will not be considered.