Site-specific assessments

A site-specific assessment (SSA) must occur for all applications to conduct research at Pathology Queensland. The assessment is conducted by the Pathology Queensland Research Office and considers:

• adequacy of resources (financial, human, equipment and infrastructure) for the research to proceed at the site and identifies if they are appropriate, accountable and available.
• suitability of a site at which the research will be conducted. The site is assessed to identify whether the ‘actual’ and/or ‘in-kind’ resources required for the conduct and completion of the project can be met. The ‘actual’ and ‘in-kind’ costs for the research project must be documented in the Budget section of the SSA.
• sufficiency of necessary expertise and experience of researchers. Alternately it considers if relevant training is planned before carrying out their role in the research study.
• compliance with relevant laws, policies and codes of conduct relating to matters such as privacy, confidentiality, consent, bio-safety, professional standards, and radiation safety.

Assessments begin when we have been received all SSA documents.

The Research Office reviews the SSA documents and makes a recommendation to the chief executive or delegate as to whether a research project should be approved at that site.

If approved, a site authorisation letter will be issued to the applicant and only then can research commence.