Appendix 1. Overview of agencies who approve health science research projects and health science data research projects

Overview of the approval process for studies with data

Health science research projects and health science data research projects that require approval by the Health Research Ethics Committee 

The Danish Medicines Agency
Health Research Ethics Committee (REC)
Research Ethics Committee at AU(in cases in which the project falls outside the REC system)    
Region Data supplier     AU’s register or CDM’s register[1]

The Danish Data Protection Agency
Interventional studies with medicinal products     XXX
Interventional studies with medical devices
X*XX
Other interventional studies  XX
Sensitive bioinformatics data XX

Health science research projects and health science data research projects that do not require approval by the Health Research Ethics Committee 

Observational studies as well as interviews and questionnaires    XX
Register-based research, data from national databases and/or registers    XX
Non-interventional studies of medicinal products    X
Data from patient records    XX

Research projects where the Danish Data Protection Agency must be notified 

Where there is also processing outside the territorial scope of the GDPR     X
Where publication in a recognised journal or similar – and data is not anonymous     X

 

 * Non-CE labelled equipment or CE labelled equipment used for other purposes

Overview of approval of trials where biological material is included

Register-based research, databases and/or registers with biological material

Creation of a biobank Research from biobank (disclosure)
1. Research biobank (specific research purpose)
  • Health Research Ethics Committee
  • Informed patient consent for the collection of biological material for the biobank
  • AU register or CDM register
  • AU register or CDM register
  • The Danish Data Protection Agency    
2. Biobank for future research (research project not defined)
  • Separate informed patient consent for the creation of a biobank for future research

  • AU register or CDM register

  • Health Research Ethics Committee
  • Informed patient consent for a new specific research purpose, unless a waiver has been obtained from VEK for the new research purpose, AU register or CDM register
  • The Danish Data Protection Agency    
3. Anonymous biological material    
  • No registration requirements    
  • No registration requirements