Research Ethics

The Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BMREC) of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) is an independent ethics review committee responsible for ensuring that biomedical and health-related research involving human participants is conducted ethically, responsibly, and in accordance with national and international ethical standards.

BMREC's primary mandate is to protect the rights, dignity, safety, and wellbeing of research participants while promoting high-quality, scientifically sound research. The Committee reviews research protocols submitted by UWC researchers, students, and collaborators to ensure compliance with applicable ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements, including the South African National Health Act, Department of Health Ethics Guidelines, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards where applicable.

As a service to the UWC research community, BMREC provides ethical review, guidance, oversight, and monitoring of biomedical research throughout the research lifecycle. Through its activities, BMREC supports the University's commitment to research excellence, integrity, innovation, and social responsibility.

For the purposes of BMREC review, biomedical research refers broadly to research involving human participants, their biological materials, personal health information, or interventions aimed at understanding health, disease, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, or wellbeing. This includes clinical, laboratory, epidemiological, public health, and related health sciences research.