Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Menu Trinity Search



You are here Research > Health Research

Health Research

In Ireland, Health Research (see definition below) is governed by the GDPR, the Data Protection Acts 1988 -2018 and the Health Research Regulations 2018 (HRR).

Trinty Roundtable: Amendments to the Health Research Regulations: What Researchers need to know

David Murphy - Putting the Health Research Regulations in the wider Data Protection Context

DOWNLOAD SLIDES IN PDF

Professor Louise Gallagher - The Health Research Regulations 2018 - A Research Perspective

DOWNLOAD SLIDES IN PDF

Peter Lennon - Amendments to the Health Research Regulations - What researchers need to know

DOWNLOAD SLIDES IN PDF

Trinity Masterclass: Amendments to the Health Research Regulations - Exploring Consent

Dr Emily Vereker -Programme Manager, HRCDC Secretariat

DOWNLOAD SLIDES IN PDF

Peter Lennon - Examining the Concept of Consent from a Legal Perspective in Health Resesarch

DOWNLOAD SLIDES IN PDF

Professor Mary McCarron - Exploring Consent - Perspectives from a Principal Investigator

DOWNLOAD SLIDES IN PDF

Explicit Consent

A Researcher planning to use an individual’s information for health research must obtain the explicit consent of the individual.

Explicit Consent is an additional safeguard under the HRR. Please note that consent should not be used as the legal basis for the use of the participants data under GDPR.

The appropriate legal basis under GDPR is scientific research (Article 9(2)(j)) in the public interest (Article 6(1)(e). Please see here for more information on Research and the Legal Basis.

Consent Declaration in absence of Explicit Consent

It is recognised – as it is in other countries – that sometimes, in limited situations, obtaining consent will not be possible and that the public interest of doing the research significantly outweighs the need for explicit consent.

It is in cases like this that HRCDC has a decision-making role.

The HRB has developed a decision tree to help researchers assess whether they might be eligible to submit an application to the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee (HRCDC) to obtain a consent declaration.

This decision tree also outlines a number of important preliminary steps that must be completed by researchers prior to the submission of any application to the HRCDC.

Health Research Definition

Reg 3(2) of the HRR defines health research as any of the following scientific research for the purpose of human health:

  • research with the goal of understanding normal and abnormal functioning, at molecular, cellular, organ system and whole body levels;
  • research that is specifically concerned with innovative strategies, devices, products or services for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of human disease or injury;
  • research with the goal of improving the diagnosis and treatment (including the rehabilitation and palliation) of human disease and injury and of improving the health and quality of life of individuals;
  • research with the goal of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health professionals and the health care system;
  • research with the goal of improving the health of the population as a whole or any part of the population through a better understanding of the ways in which social, cultural, environmental, occupational and economic factors determine health status;

Contact

If you are unsure if your research project falls within the scope of the HRR, please contact the Trinity College Deputy Data Protection Officer (Research) for further assistance: ResearchDPO@tcd.ie.

Further Guidance for Health Researchers