Ethical review is an imperative step prior to conducting human research. It was originally developed in response to the atrocities conducted during World War II, where inhumane medical experiments were performed, exemplifying an extreme manifestation of involuntary participation, risk of harm and injury, abuse of power and disregard for scientific merit and integrity in human research. 

Whilst these historical events are vastly different to the modern clinical and public health research context, the underlying principles of research ethics; voluntary participation, informed consent, acceptable risk/benefit ratio, research merit, justice and respect for participants are just as relevant today in ensuring human research participants and their rights are protected and upheld.

A Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) reviews research proposals with/or about human participants, or their data/samples to ensure that the research is ethically acceptable. Ethical review by a HREC not only guides research design and conduct from the perspective of safeguarding participants, but it also advocates for the advancement of scientific knowledge. This occurs through the HREC’s integrated scientific review process which promotes research design that will achieve the study objectives. Furthermore, ethical review aims to safeguard the credibility of human research by ensuring it is not undermined by the process in which the research outcomes are obtained.

The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee (SCHN HREC) is comprised of a diverse and dedicated membership of clinicians/researchers with expertise in fields including immunology, oncology, neurology, gene therapy, bio-statistics, endocrinology and diabetes, cardiology and general medicine/surgery, neonatology, physiotherapy, nursing, genetic counselling, nuclear medicine, anaesthetics, qualitative research, social work, health policy and laboratory research in addition to community representatives, pastoral carers and lawyers.  

The SCHN HREC strongly believes in the advancement of scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity. Concurrently, it believes that public trust in the ethical conduct of research is paramount for the continuation of a strong, symbiotic relationship between researchers and participants.