Human Research Ethics

Transition from UniSA to Adelaide University

KEY UPDATES:

In 2026, Adelaide University will utilise the ‘ACES’ Human Ethics Application Form (which is currently being used by University of Adelaide).

As we transition to Adelaide University, core UniSA Business Systems (including the UniSA Human Ethics Application Platform) will unavoidably need to be shut down to allow for the transfer of records to the new Adelaide University system – ACES.

KEY TIMELINES:

• New Human Ethics Applications: The final date for submission of any NEW applications (regardless of the research ethics ‘risk level’) via the UniSA Human Research Ethics Online Application Form (MyRM / ResearchMaster) will be 5pm - Tuesday 28 October 2025. The online form will not be accessible for drafting and submitting NEW applications from this date.

• The final HREC meeting (for the review of any NEW ‘Higher Risk’ / ‘E3’ application reviews) will be held on 17 November 2025.

• The UniSA HREC may, by exception only, accept genuinely urgent new applications between November – December 2025. Acceptance of these urgent new applications will be at the discretion of the UniSA HREC Chair (and will require support from local area leadership - e.g.: the Dean of Research or an equivalent senior representative). Please scroll to the end of this section to view further details about the process for this ‘urgent application pathway’ (and related requirements / considerations).

• System Shut Down: At this time, the UniSA Human Ethics System MyRM (ResearchMaster) is due to be shut down at 5pm – 01 December 2025*
• Current Applications (under active review, before or by the 28 October 2025 deadline): for any applications currently under review, please check the status of your application in the UniSA MyRM system. If you are concerned about the progress of your review, please contact: humanethics@unisa.edu.au.

  Where feasible, every effort will be made to finalise outcomes / approvals for any applications under active review before the system shutdown (anticipated for 5pm – 01 December 2025*). If this is not possible, the review process will resume in the new Adelaide University application system, ACES after 05 January 2026.

• ‘DAY ONE’ - 05 January 2026: The Adelaide University e-form ACES will be available to all UniSA researchers for submissions to the Adelaide University HREC from 05 January 2026.

If you have any questions about the best approach for your HREC application, please contact the UniSA Human Ethics Office: humanethics@unisa.edu.au

For existing approved research projects: please also note that the UniSA Human Ethics Office will continue to be available as usual for the remainder of 2025 to receive and process requests related to the on-going management and monitoring of ethics projects (such as ‘Project Variation Requests’; ‘Adverse or Reportable Event’ submissions; any complaints received; etc.). 

Please be mindful that some submissions may take longer than usual to review or to receive a response; and some full application reviews may need to be held over until 2026 to be considered by the new Adelaide University committees.

 

Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience as we continue to work towards 'Day One' of Adelaide University.

*Due to the fast-paced work undertaken during our transition to Adelaide University, please be aware that this information may be subject to minor changes. While this will be avoided as far as possible, please check the Human Research Ethics intranet regularly for the most up-to-date advice

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Urgent Application Pathway

As part of the transition to Adelaide University, the UniSA HREC will implement an urgent pathway for truly critical submissions between the UniSA HREC submission cut-off and the commencement of the Adelaide University committee processes. The UniSA HREC may, by exception only, accept genuinely urgent new applications. Acceptance of such applications will be at the discretion of the HREC Chair.

Key Dates

• 29 October 2025 – COB 01 December 2025: an urgent pathway will be available for genuinely critical new applications.
  From 02 December 2025: there will be no access to Research Master available (including for urgent matters) until the launch of the new Adelaide University systems in 2026.
• Compliance reporting (including adverse event notifications, non-compliance reports, complaints, project variation requests, etc.) will remain available through direct communications sent to humanethics@unisa.edu.au, following the standard reporting procedures.

Process

The following process must be followed for consideration of applications through the urgent submission pathway:

1. The local area leadership (e.g.: Dean of Research or equivalent senior representative) must first determine that the application is truly urgent.
2. The local area leadership must then submit a request to the HREC Chair via humanethics@unisa.edu.au for consideration.
3. If the request is approved by the HREC Chair, the Human Ethics Office will contact the researcher(s) directly to provide details on how to progress the submission of an application.

Please note that, due to time constraints from the planned system closures (along with standard application processing / review timeframes), review or approval cannot be guaranteed during this period, even for urgent submissions.

Non-urgent applications

For applications related to activities to be conducted in 2026, the UniSA Research Office strongly encourages you to delay submission until the new Adelaide University ACES platform becomes available. Submitting through the new platform will ensure that your project is managed fully within the Adelaide University review and oversight framework, supporting consistency and continuity across the project’s lifecycle.