Ethical Review Process

The BHRI ERC follows a structured, transparent, and timely ethical review process in accordance with its approved Standard Operating Procedures.

Submission

↓ 

Administrative Screening

(≤7 days)

↓ 

Protocol Registration

↓ 

Independent Ethical Review

(Next ERC Meeting)

↓ 

Committee Determination

(≤30 days)

↓ 

If Revisions Required

(≤14 days after resubmission)

↓ 

Final Approval & Continuing Oversight

BHRI ERC strives to conduct ethical review efficiently while maintaining independence, scientific integrity, fairness, and participant protection. Review timelines may vary depending on protocol complexity, submission completeness, the need for external expert consultation, or requests for additional information.

Possible Review Determination

• Approved 

• Approved with Required Modifications 

• Deferred Pending Additional Information 

• Not Approved 

• Suspension / Withdrawal of Approval

Ethical Review Fees

To support the administrative and operational costs of ethical review, BHRI Ethics Review Committee (BHRI ERC) charges fees based on the category and complexity of research. These fees contribute to administrative screening, protocol registration, document management, reviewer coordination, ethical review activities, quality assurance, record retention, and continuing oversight.

Payment of applicable fees does not guarantee ethical approval, nor does it influence the independent ethical review or final determination of BHRI ERC. All research protocols are reviewed independently and objectively based solely on their scientific quality, ethical acceptability, regulatory compliance, and participant protection.

Fee Structure

Fee structure is shown bellow

Fee schedule effective from 17 June 2026. BHRI ERC reserves the right to revise the fee schedule periodically. The applicable fees will be those in effect on the date a complete submission is received.

Payment Process

Step 1 - Submission & Administrative Processing

A non-refundable Submission Fee must accompany every new protocol submission.

This fee covers:

✔ Administrative screening 

✔ Protocol registration 

✔ Preliminary eligibility assessment 

✔ Document management 

✔ Initial correspondence with investigators 

✔ Protocols will proceed to administrative screening only after payment of the applicable Submission Fee.

Step 2 - Ethical Review

Following successful administrative screening and confirmation that the submission is eligible for ethical review, investigators will be requested to pay the Remaining Review Fee according to the applicable research category.

The remaining fee supports:

✔ Independent ethical review 

✔ ERC meetings and deliberations 

✔ Expert consultation (where applicable) 

✔ Preparation of review determinations 

✔ Continuing review and oversight 

✔ Institutional record management 

✔ Quality assurance activities 

Refund Policy

✔ The Submission Fee is non-refundable once administrative screening has commenced. 

✔ The Remaining Review Fee is generally non-refundable once ethical review has begun. 

✔ Where BHRI ERC determines, prior to ethical review, that a protocol falls outside its scope of review or cannot proceed for administrative reasons, the Committee may refund the Remaining Review Fee while retaining the Submission Fee to cover administrative costs. 

Fee Waivers and Reductions

BHRI ERC is committed to supporting ethically sound research that serves the public interest.

The Committee may, at its discretion, approve partial or full fee waivers for:

✔ Unfunded student research 

✔ Public health emergency research 

✔ Humanitarian research 

✔ Investigator-initiated research with demonstrated financial hardship 

✔ Other exceptional circumstances considered to be in the public interest 

Requests for fee waivers must be submitted in writing with appropriate justification at the time of protocol submission. Approval of fee waivers is entirely at the discretion of BHRI ERC.

Payment Policy

✔ Payment of review fees does not influence the ethical review process or the final decision of BHRI ERC. 

✔ All protocols are evaluated independently in accordance with the Committee's Charter, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and internationally accepted ethical principles. 

✔ BHRI ERC maintains complete independence in all ethical review decisions regardless of the source or amount of funding.