Research Policies

Sanger Institute’s Research Policies are designed to provide guidance to help researchers navigate the legislation relating to their research and to ensure that research is ethical and legal. Our research should embody the core values of the Institute and Wellcome. Researchers at the Sanger Institute have the responsibility to be aware of which Research Policies apply to their research and to ensure they and their teams are compliant with them.

To help our researchers conceive and design their research in ways that maintain the highest-possible ethical standards and integrity, the Institute has set up the Sanger Research Ethics Committee (Sanger REC).

Sanger REC

Discover the work of Sanger's Research Ethics Committee

Sanger REC

Our Research Policies

Embedding equity in international research collaboration

How the Wellcome Sanger Institute fosters genomic research around the world and builds capacity so that all may benefit from the tools, insights and resources generated by DNA sequencing and analysis

Find out more

MESSAGE (Medical Science Sex and Gender Equity)

The Sanger Institute supports the introduction of dedicated sex and gender policies for biomedical, health and care research in the UK.

Find out more

Good Research Practice

All research policy at the Sanger Institute is fundamentally underpinned by the Good Research Practice policy, which consists of seven basic principles

Find out more

Open Access and Data Protection

The Sanger Institute is completely committed to sharing its data, as well as the resources, materials and publications it produces. Rapid and open data sharing strategically supports the Institute’s mission by enabling research and accelerating translation

Find out more

DORA - San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment

We openly share research in many different outputs and we are committed to recognising the value of all scientific contributions, so we are delighted to have become a signatory of the Declaration on Research Assessment

Find out more

Nagoya Protocol

The Nagoya Protocol and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)

The Wellcome Sanger Institute ensures that the use of genetic resources undertaken as part of research on site is carried out in compliance with the Nagoya Protocol and applicable Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) regulations, through the Research Governance office within the Legal, Research Governance and Policy team.

Find out more

Working with Human Material

The Sanger Institute uses human tissue samples, DNA and RNA donated by the living and the deceased in its research. In addition the Institute uses induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cell lines. The Institute does not use human embryoes in any of its research at this time.

Find out more

Use of Animals in Research

The Sanger Institute uses animals in research where it is necessary and where there are no alternatives. We are committed to the highest standards of ethics and welfare.

Find out more

How the Sanger Institute influences policy

How the Sanger Institute influences policy by advising governments and parliamentary groups

Please read our responses to the UK Government on issues such as science and immigration, and the potential of genomics and genome editing to enhance medical care

Read Sanger’s policy responses