1992	Upon taking over the management of all public hospitals from the M&HD, HA set up an ethics committee (HA EC) to replace the Hospital Services Department / Department of Health ethics committee. HA requires all clinical research within HA to be reviewed by a recognized ethics committee (i.e. of the HA, University of HK or Chinese University of HK) in accordance to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
1995	To cope with increasing research activities, HA decentralized the ethics review and study oversight responsibilities to ethics committees at the hospital level. By 2001, there were 29 hospital ethics committees within HA.
Dec 2001	To assure effective enforcement of ethical principles within the HA and to harmonize practices with the two medical schools, the Medical Services Development Committee approved revamping of the existing research ethics infrastructure along the following direction (MSDC-P140):- Ethics committee is a cornerstone in research ethics governance and its operation should be strengthened.- Division of labor between standard setting, compliance oversight (HA REC) and ethics review, study oversight (Cluster REC)
2Q 2002	Established HA REC
4Q 2002	Consolidated 29 hospital ethic committees into 6 Cluster RECs
Dec 2002	NTE CREC merged with CU's REC
Mar 2003	HKW CREC merged with HKU's REC
1Q 2003	Established guiding document and supporting forms for Cluster REC
Dec 2003	Medical Services Development Committee reviewed progress and approved (MSDC-P181): - Develop (i) Code of Practice for investigator, (ii) SOP for study site, and (iii) Central Register (involving HA patients) - Develop HA's R&D capability by collaborating relevant resources, e.g. KPO team - Provide more training opportunities on research related matters - Monitor/audit Cluster REC performance
4Q 2004	Established a Central Register on Clinical Research
4Q 2004	Established Study Site Guide and Investigator's Code of Practice

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Last update: 22 August 2007