1st August 2023 On January 25th 2022, the Cook Islands Research Policy was updated and endorsed by Cabinet.
This led to the establishment of the Cook Islands Research Ethics Committee (‘CIREC’) in May 2022 who work in partnership with the Cook Islands National Research Committee (‘CINRC’).
The Cook Islands Research Ethics Committee ensures that all research undertaken in the Cook Islands meets high research and ethical standards protecting those involved in research. In terms of process, the CIREC reviews all applicable applications before granting ethics approval.
The application then moves to the CINRC for final review and approval, unless an ethics or programmatic exemption applies. All research applications are required to seek ethics approval in the Cook Islands unless they fit under the exemptions listing under the Policy. To date we have received 52 applications from 15 countries with 36 female and 16 male applicants. Covering various aspects of natural heritage, health, mental health, education, agriculture, environment, wellbeing, education, workforce development, marine, seabed minerals, social development and tourism.
Applications are received over a two-month period and are categorized by their level of risk – low, medium and high, which is dependent on the nature of research to be conducted. This determines the turnaround time on applications.
The 2023 deadlines for applications are as per the below: 27 February 2023 24 April 2023 26 June 2023 28 August 2023 30 October 2023 Please note that timelines for application decisions vary depending on the risk analysis and that no applications will be reviewed across the December/January period. This will resume in February 2024. The 2024 application deadlines will be announced towards the end of the year.
All further queries or concerns can be directed to the Research Secretariat on research.secretariat@cookislands.gov.ck our team will be happy to assist.
Further information on applications for research or any issues around research in the Cook Islands is available from the OPM website at https://www.pmoffice.gov.ck/; or by email to cppo@cookislands.gov.ck; or phoning +682 25494.
