Meet the team
Our team are here to help you uphold robust research ethics.
We include the Chairs of our University Research Ethics Committee (URECs) who ensure adequate consideration has been given to the ethical aspects of a research project, thus reducing the potential for harm and upset to the participants.
There's also our Research Ethics Team Further for day-to-day information and guidance.
They are headed by Head of Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity, April Lockyer and Associate Vice President, Responsible Research Practice, Professor Mahesan Nirmalan, who says: "I believe that Responsible Research forms the very DNA of our institution. We are here to support colleagues to work responsibly and to help them mitigate any risks they may face as they continue their remarkable work to address global challenges."
.png)
Dr Jon Shute - Chair to UREC 1
Jon is Chair of UREC 1 and is a criminologist in the School of Social Sciences. Faculty of Humanities. He has experience of a range of methodologies including longitudinal surveys, qualitative case studies, and ethnography. His research interests are crime in the life course, and the criminology of atrocity/international crime.
Dr Claudia Henninger - Chair to UREC 2
Claudia is the Chair of the UREC2 panel and is based in the Department of Materials within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. She is a qualitative researcher, who has further an expertise in interdisciplinary research. Her research focuses on sustainability within the fashion industry.
Dr Sarah Leonard – Chair to UREC 3
Sarah is Chair of the Research Ethics Oversight Committee and UREC 3 and is based in the Division of Psychology and Mental Health within the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. She is a mixed-methods researcher with expertise in leading complex, national, multi-site studies. Her research focuses on improving care quality and equity for people in contact with the criminal justice system.
Dr Ola Demkowicz – Chair to UREC 4
Ola is Chair of UREC 4 and is based in the Manchester Institute of Education in the School of Environment, Education, and Development, Faculty of Humanities. She is a mixed methods researcher with expertise in child and youth mental health and wellbeing, and her research explores how we can understand, shape, and challenge the social and structural conditions that shape young people’s mental health and wellbeing needs and experiences.
Wider team support
April Lockyer – Head of Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity
April is Head of Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity responsible for developing and implementing policy and processes that ensure the effective governance, integrity and ethical conduct of University research. She is also Caldicott Guardian for the University.
Professor Mahesan Nirmalan – Associate Vice President, Responsible Research Practice
Professor Mahesh Nirmalan is Associate Vice President for Research with a focus on Research Governance and Responsible Research Practice. In addition to this University role, he serves as consultant in Intensive Care Medicine at Manchester Royal Infirmary. The areas of his academic interest are Medical Education and Global Health Research. Prior to taking on the current role as AVP, Prof Nirmalan served as Vice Dean for Social Responsibility at the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health between 2016 - 2024.
Research Ethics Team
Genevieve Pridham - Research Ethics Manager
Holding research to high ethical standards and coffee to even higher ones.
Kate Hennessy - Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity Officer
System wrangler. Will work for chocolate or books.
Sadi Chadburn - Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity Support Officer
Navigating the ethical maze of research by day and powering through half marathons, garden beds, and weightlifting sessions by night.
Daniel Bulman - Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity Support Officer
Pre‑screening ethics applications and here to help with any ethics questions you might have.