Privacy notice for applicants submitting an ethics application

Information provided in application forms is stored in the online Research Ethics Application System.

All data will be managed and held securely by The Open University and Infonetica Ltd. Data will only be shared with HREC members as part of the research ethics review process. Occasionally, and only where relevant, applications are discussed with other OU research review panels, e.g. the Student Research Project Panel and the Staff Survey Project Panel, predominately to avoid delays where applications are being made simultaneously.

Any sensitive personal data disclosed as part of a research ethics application, will be stored securely and only shared as above. If such data is volunteered but then needs to be withdrawn, the researcher should email the Human Research Ethics team. Researchers are also able to delete submissions made to the Research Ethics Application System. More information about the collection and use of data is available in our Student privacy notice and Staff, workers and applicants privacy notice (internal link only).