DERC

Important notice: Rollout of the DREAM App for DERC Ethics Review

The DERC Review and Approval Management (DREAM) App has been developed by ODPRT as an online system for submitting applications to DERCs for ethics review. The DREAM App was officially launched on 18 February 2025 and is accessible here: DREAM APP

As the DREAM App is gradually rolled out across departments, please check with your DERC whether you should submit your application via the App or continue using the existing submission process.

Please note: Applications for ethics review meant for DERCs should not be submitted via iRIMS-IRB, as that system is exclusively for applications requiring NUS-IRB review.



Research that can be reviewed by DERCs:

Student research that,Faculty research that,
  • is construed as "research";
  • is excluded from the HBRA;
  • is of minimal risk;
  • involves vulnerable populations and/or deception (see IRB-Guide-020 on use of deception in research);
  • involves use of lucky draw in lieu of reimbursement for participation in the study, where the conduct of the lucky draw or research fulfil the criteria as stated in the NUS-IRB's guidelines for lucky draws;
  • is not part of a faculty member's research project already subject to review by NUS-IRB;
  • does not involve any testing of a medical device or health product as defined in the Health Products Act.
  • has no funding, is self-funded, or funded by internal NUS grant/funding.
  • is construed as "research";
  • is excluded from the HBRA;
  • is of minimal risk and qualifies for an Exemption;
  • does not involve vulnerable populations and/or deception (see IRB-Guide-020 on use of deception in research), or sensitive topics;
  • involves use of lucky draw in lieu of reimbursement for participation in the study, where the conduct of the lucky draw or research fulfil the criteria as stated in the NUS-IRB's guidelines for lucky draws;
  • does not involve any testing of a medical device or health product as defined in the Health Products Act; and
  • has no funding, is self-funded, or funded by internal NUS grant/funding.
  • From 8 October 2024, faculty research that is externally funded by overseas academic research organizations, Singapore Government agencies, or Statutory Boards, Singapore Government-owned companies up to a grant quantum of $180,000 can be reviewed by DERCs, provided the research also fulfils points 2.1.1 to 2.1.6 of the Guidelines (IRB-Guide-022).
  • For all other external grants/ funding, such as commercial companies, please submit the application to the NUS-IRB.
Please read all DERC Guidelines and Resources below on what research qualifies for DERC review.
Commonly encountered issues - Research that cannot be reviewed by DERCs:
 
  • If the research does not meet the criteria for DERC review e.g. student research that is externally funded, or faculty research that recruits vulnerable population e.g. children, the research should be submitted to IRB.
  • Research involving data from human subjects in China should be submitted to IRB for review.
  • Research requiring a waiver of parental consent cannot be reviewed by a DERC and should be submitted to IRB (see Guidelines below).

This is a non-exhaustive list.


DERC Review and Approval Management (DREAM) App: DREAM APP

Please see user guides: https://nusu.sharepoint.com/:f:/r/sites/DREAMProductionSite/Guides/DREAM Guides?csf=1&web=1&e=DkaPhh



Before accessing the following guidelines, please ensure you have downloaded, installed and enabled Pulse Secure VPN. Please see guide: https://inetapps.nus.edu.sg/2fa/start.html. VPN is required in order to access the guidelines below. If prompted to login, please login with your NUS email address or NUSNET ID e.g. xxxx@nus.edu.sg or nusstf\xxxx.

     • Ethics Review of Student Research by DERC (updated on 15 Jan 2025)
     • Ethics Review of Faculty Research by DERC (updated on 8 Oct 2024)
     • IRB Advisory: When Would Student Projects Require Ethics Review? (updated on 12 Dec 2024)
     • Guidelines on Minimal Risk Questions/ Questionnaires that can be Reviewed by the DERCs (IRB-Guide-025)  (Issued on 3 Jan 2024)

     • DERC Template for Reporting to NUS-IRB
     • Email Reminder on Recruitment of non-NUS subjects aged below 21 years old
     • SBER Exemption Guidelines
     • Sharing Session 14 May 2019: Powerpoint Slides
     • Flowchart for Triaging Studies received by the DERCs



 

  • For all research reviewed and approved by a DERC, the NUS-IRB contact details should not be reflected on the Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form (PIS&CF). For an independent opinion regarding the ethics of the study and rights of research subjects, the contact details of the approving DERC should be reflected accordingly.
  • Requests for statements of concurrences should be submitted to the IRB only after the research is completed, and after the PI has assessed that the results are publishable.

 



List of DERCs with Contact Details Updated on 28 Jan 2025

 

Faculty / College
Dept & WebsiteContact Details
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)




 Centre for Language Studies: website Ms Susanna Lam (susanna@nus.edu.sg)
Chinese StudiesMs April Ng Siok Hwang (fasasnsh@nus.edu.sg)
Communications and New Media: website
cnmderc@nus.edu.sg
Economicsecs_derc@nus.edu.sg
English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies Ms Pamela Sebestian (ellpps@nus.edu.sg)
HistoryDr Matthias Wong (matthias.wong@nus.edu.sg)
Japanese Studies Ms April Ng Siok Hwang (fasasnsh@nus.edu.sg)
Malay Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, and South Asian StudiesMs Sharifah Alhadad (fasassa@nus.edu.sg)
Political Science Mr Wesley Ngoi (polnyjw@nus.edu.sg)
Psychology: websitePsych Ethics Enquiries (psybox27@nus.edu.sg)
Social Work: website
swkbox5@nus.edu.sg
Sociology & Anthropology: websiteMs Vickneswari S (socbox3@nus.edu.sg)
Faculty of Science (FOS)
website
 Biological SciencesMs Yong Ann Nee (ann_nee@nus.edu.sg) 
 Food Science & TechnologyMs Yang Dimeng (dimeng.yang@nus.edu.sg), Ms Hanny Putri Pranata (hanny@nus.edu.sg) 
 PharmacyMs Chew Ying Ying (phacyy@nus.edu.sg), Mr Steve Tay (steve_t@nus.edu.sg)
School of Business
Ethics Review Committee: websitebiz-erc@nus.edu.sg
College of Design and EngineeringEthics Review Committee: websitecdebox5@nus.edu.sg
School of ComputingDERC: websiteMs Iris Chang (irischang@nus.edu.sg)
Saw Swee Hock School of Public HealthDERCsshsphderc@se.nus.edu.sg
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS): websiteMs Sinnathamby Krishnaleela (krish-79@nus.edu.sg)

NUSMed Medical Sciences Departmental Ethics Review Committee (MS-DERC)  website
MS-DERC is only able to review applications from students / staff in these 5 Depts- Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, Pharmacology, Physiology
Other Clinical Departments should submit directly to NUS-IRB.

Ms Swapna Haresh Teckwani  (swapnaht@nus.edu.sg)
Duke-NUSDuke-NUS DERC: websitederc.education@duke-nus.edu.sg 
Institute of Policy StudiesIPS DERC - review research conducted by IPS staff only. Ms Sakunika (Saku) Wewalaarachchi (sakunika@nus.edu.sg), Ms Choo Yen Ping (choo.yenping@nus.edu.sg)
Yale-NUS CollegeYale-NUS College Ethics Review Committee (CERC): websiteresearchethics@yale-nus.edu.sg
NUS College (NUSC)NUSC DERCNUSC.Ethics@nus.edu.sg
NUS Graduate SchoolNGS DERCMr Ho Wei Min (ngshwm@nus.edu.sg) 
Institute for Applied Learning Sciences
& Educational Technology
(ALSET)
and
Centre for Development
of Teaching & Learning
(CDTL)		The Learning & Analytics Committee on Ethics (LACE)
- for review of all Educational research that qualifies for an Exemption: website		lace-derc@nus.edu.sg
The College of Alice and Peter Tan (CAPT)DERC: websiteMs Lee Meng Choo (lee.mengchoo@nus.edu.sg), Ms Serene Ho (h0serene@nus.edu.sg)
Chua Thian Poh Community
Leadership Centre
(CTPCLC)		DERCMs Elsie Lim (elsielim@nus.edu.sg)