The University of Livingstonia Research Ethics Committee (UNILIA-REC) is one of the committees that is established in line with the UNILIA Research Policy and the National Commission for Science and Technology Regulatory Requirements for the Establishment of Research Ethics Committees in Malawi. The aim UNILIA-REC is to contribute towards fulfilling the requirements for the implementation of high quality and world-class research and development programs and activities at University of Livingstonia (UNILIA). The major function of UNILIA-REC is to promote research ethics by ensuring that research carried out by UNILIA Faculty members, staff, their collaborators and students meets the highest ethical and scientific standards.

In April 2021 NCST approved the Guidelines and SOPs, by July 2021 the University officially established the REC secretariat comprised of REC administrator and Compliance Officer.

To implement world- class research and development activities, there is a need for ethical and scientific review of all the research proposals/protocols before implementation. Consequently, the University of Livingstonia Research Ethics Committee (UNILIA-REC) is established to undertake the requisite scientific and ethical review of all proposals at UNILIA. Such a review aims at protecting the safety, rights and wellbeing of humans and animals in research.

In line with its mandate, UNILIA-REC has developed a set of requirements and SOPs that researchers and other stakeholders are required to abide by in preparing research submissions for review and approval. Using a UNILIA-REC required format of a research proposal (attachment of format), researchers shall submit applications accompanied with the required checklist for UNILIA-REC review and approval. The requirements and SOPs are available below.

1. SOP NO. 1: Standard Operating Procedure for distributing UNILIA-REC documents
2. SOP NO. 2: Standard Operating Procedure for Training and Continuing Professional Development of UNILIA-REC Members And Secretariat
3. SOP NO 3: Standard Operating Procedure for Managing Proposal Submission
4. SOP NO 4: Standard Operating Procedure for Proposal Review Process
5. SOP NO 5: Standard Operating Procedure for Engaging External Reviewer/Expert
6. SOP NO 6: Standard Operating Procedure for Expedited Review
7. SOP NO 7: Standard Operating Procedure for Management Of Protocol Amendments
8. SOP NO 8: Standard Operating Procedure for Annual Continuing Review
9. SOP NO 9: Standard Operating Procedure for Managing Non-Compliance By Investigators
10. SOP NO 10: Standard Operating Procedure for Premature Termination Of Protocols
11. SOP NO 11: Standard Operating Procedure for Inspection And Monitoring Of Approved Protocols
12. SOP NO 12: Standard Operating Procedure for Storage Of Active Files
13. SOP NO 13:Standard Operating Procedure Declaring Conflict Of Interest
14. SOP NO 14:Standard Operating Procedure for Maintaining Confidentiality
15. SOP NO 15: Standard Operating Procedure for Review Of Guidelines And Procedures
16. SOP NO 16: Standard Operating Procedure for Audit And Inspection Of UNILIA-REC
17. SOP NO 17: Standard Operating Procedure for Convening An Emergency Meeting
18. SOP NO 18: Standard Operating Procedure for Management Of Participants Complaints
19. SOP NO 19: Standard Operating Procedure for Material Transfer Agreement
20. SOP NO 20: Standard Operating Procedure for Decision Making
21. SOP NO 21: Standard Operating Procedure for Documentation Of Meetings

UNILIA-REC Checklist to Accompany Submission of Proposals: Before submitting a research proposal to the Committee, an applicant must complete the following checklist by ticking each item in the box. Do not submit the proposal, unless you have provided a tick in all the boxes. Incomplete submissions will not be processed.

Contact Us

Director of Research
P.O. Box 112
Mzuzu

MALAWI

E-mail: uniliarec@unilia.ac.mw