If you have concerns you should definitely familiarize yourself with the Health Research Act (Act on medical and health research). This act was approved in 2008 (1 July 2009), and was more recently updated in 2017. Below you will find a short introduction to the act.

§2 defines the aim with medical and health research as research on human beings, human biologic material and health related information. In addition, the act is applicable for pilot studies and exploring treatments. The act also defines the geographical area where research is conducted (in § 3), and relates to Norwegian territory or when research is conducted under the leadership of Norwegian scientists.

§4 involves who is the responsible institution and normally this is the place where the responsible scientist is employed. In addition, we get a definition of the project leader as a person who should have the competence both to topic and science for a responsible performance. The supervisor is normally the project leader and should then have a PhD or corresponding merits.

The project leader has the responsibility for the daily conduct of the project and should oversee: that ethical, health related, scientific and individual concerns are taken; that the institution is informed before the project is started; that applicable ethical approval from REK is at hand; that the project is conducted according to the original plan; as well as appropriate communications to public institutions have been done.

Who must apply at REK? All who conduct research with an aim of novel knowledge about health and disease.

Who does not need to apply? Activities concerned with quality assurance. In addition, there are borderline areas, for example health service research, explorative treatments and methodological developments.

If you have questions/concerns? Use the application template “Remit Assessment”.  By this you will get a quick response from REK.

And please note – you will never obtain ethical approval after a project has been started!

How do I apply? You find the Web portal here.  There is full electronic handling of applications.  The decision is sent to the responsible institution. There are different forms for remit assessment, project application, project amendments, and reports.

If you still have questions and concerns – contact the administration at REK. You find them in the second floor of Armauer Hansen Building.

Roland
Acting Head

This originates from an American film (1985), hosting Madonna in her first major screen role. The title was an announcement in the personal column of a newspaper (pre-internet).

What if you did not know if it was Susan you were seeking? Actually it was Stephanie! The REAL story (2017) takes place in Europe; A Basque neuroscience professor is looking for a collaborator skilled in neuro-genetics, rat models and brain investigations. How to find her? Era-net Neuron has issued a trans-national call, advertising 1 million Euro. Where to seek? On the Internet of course, and the UiB web-pages (which our Vice Dean of Innovation Helge Raeder wisely has nudged all research group leaders to actively update) and there he found her; his very Stephanie (Le Hellar), with a perfect scientific match. And so the grant was awarded them! Congratulations Stephanie! And for the rest of us; go home and update your personal UiB web page. Perhaps the scientist of your dreams is out there, waiting for your specific qualifications?!

And if you are desperately seeking dissemination assistance the brand new UiB « Lab of Learning and Dissemination» has just opened in Media City Bergen. They are eager and ready, with highly skilled personnel combining pedagogy and technology; journalism, photography, graphics, TV-productions, wanting to help just YOU! If you need assistance in producing a video to use while teaching (first priority) or research dissemination, they want to enable you to master this yourself. They have a “first-aid-kit” to lend for free, transforming your own cell phone into a capable recorder, and simple (to use) editing programs for you to transform the “take” into a proper video.

The goal should be that each teacher produces one short clinical video-clip for the students to see (and then practice the skill) because this is the OSCE-exercise she/he will organize for the coming spring OSCE. But sooner; coming Wednesday 8th of November is the autumn OSCE which many of us will contribute to. Good luck to you all; both the OSCE-general Ketil Grong, all his good helpers and all the students being tested.