DERC

Important note: All applications to the DERCs should be submitted through their usual route and not via the iRIMS-IRB as this system is meant for applications for the NUS-IRB’s review.


With effect from 1 June 2019, faculty research that qualifies for an Exemption may be reviewed and approved by a Departmental Ethics Review Committee (DERC). This applies to social, behavioural and educational research (SBER) that is of minimal risk, but excludes any human biomedical research (HBR) that falls within section 3 of the Human Biomedical Research Act (HBRA).

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.
  • 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
  • is not funded by external non-NUS funds, grants, agencies or sponsors such as MOE, MOH, BMRC, A*STAR, SERC, statutory boards etc.

Refer to DERC Guidelines and Resources below.

  • 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 23 May 2022

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 Siow Hwang (fasasnsh@nus.edu.sg)
Communications and New Media: website
cnmderc@nus.edu.sg
Economicsecs_derc@nus.edu.sg
English Language & Literature Ms Pamela Sebestian (ellpps@nus.edu.sg)
Japanese Studies Ms Chen Xi (jpssec@nus.edu.sg)
Malay Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, and South Asian StudiesMs Sharifah Alhadad (fasassa@nus.edu.sg)
Political Science Mr Ryan Tan (ryan_tan@nus.edu.sg)
Mr Wesley Ngoi (polnyjw@nus.edu.sg)
Psychology: websitePsych Ethics Enquiries (psybox27@nus.edu.sg)
Social Work: website
Ms Tan Ching Lin (swktancl@nus.edu.sg)
Sociology: websiteMr Noor Faizal bin Rabu (socbox3@nus.edu.sg)
Faculty of Science (FOS)
website
 Biological SciencesMs Yong Ann Nee (ann_nee@nus.edu.sg) 
 Food Science & TechnologyMs Hanny Putri Pranata (hanny@nus.edu.sg) 
 PharmacyMs Winnie Chiang (winnie@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 Kristen Tan (kristen@nus.edu.sg)
NUSMed Medical Sciences Departmental Ethics Review Committee (MSDERC) - comprising: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, Pharmacology, Physiology
website
Ms Ngian Meixing, Cheryl (phsnmc@nus.edu.sg)
Ms Chan Bixiu, Michelle (phscbm@nus.edu.sg)
Duke-NUSDuke-NUS DERCderc.education@duke-nus.edu.sg 
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public PolicyInstitute of Policy Studies - DERC Ms Choo Yen Ping (choo.yenping@nus.edu.sg)
Dr Mike Hou (houminz@nus.edu.sg)
Yale-NUS CollegeYale-NUS College Ethics Review Committee (CERC): websiteresearchethics@yale-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)
University Scholars Programme (USP)DERCMs Rohayu Binte Hamdi (usprh@nus.edu.sg) 
Chua Thian Poh Community
Leadership Centre
(CTPCLC)		DERCMs Elsie Lim (elsielim@nus.edu.sg)