Completing the risk assessment

All research applications require you to complete a mandatory risk assessment questionnaire within Worktribe. Find guidance on completing a risk assessment for your project.

The risk assessment enables approvers of the research application to make an informed decision on any potential risk. It consists of 12 ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions designed to flag risk and capture key information relevant to the project. A positive ('yes') response to any of the questions will generate a Worktribe warning (indicated in red or amber) on the project summary page to alert department approvers, and subsequently Award Services of potential risk or impact.

If you answer 'yes' to any of the questions below, contact the research support staff in your department, your Research Facilitator, or Award Services as early as possible in the process, to ensure appropriate support can be provided.

Risk assessment questions

1. Infrastructure needs: Will the project require either the acquisition of new space, the modification of existing space, the installation of equipment, the creation of new buildings, or any other capital investment?
2. Institutional commitment: Will the project require UCL to fund any kind of Institutional Commitment, in addition to any standard under-recovery of the full economic cost of the project?  Examples of Institutional Commitment requirements include the UCL providing matched funding for equipment or funding studentships.
3. Research computing and data storage: Will the project require the use of any High-Performance or High-Throughput Computing facilities, and/or is it likely to generate data in excess of 1TB in volume at any stage?
4. Conflict of Interest: Could the project involve people who could be perceived as having a conflict of interest? An example of this would be an Investigator who is in receipt of an associated consultancy. Refer to the UCL Declaration of Interest Policy for comprehensive guidance.
5. Risk to environment or reputation: Is there any aspect of the project that might be perceived to breach social or cultural expectations of university research, or be considered otherwise environmentally or reputationally sensitive (including third party or funding relationships)?

6. Risk to environment or reputation: Could the project involve or generate materials, methods or knowledge that have the potential to cause significant harm to the environment, animals or humans?

7. Risk to environment or reputation: Could the project involve the use or generation of Dual-Use technology i.e. materials, software and /or technology that can be applied for civilian and military applications, and/or could contribute to the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction?

8. Risk to environment or reputation: Is there any intention or requirement for the export of sensitive technology or strategic goods (encompassing physical export, software and technical knowledge) which have or may have a military application?

9. Risk to environment or reputation: Is there any risk that third parties involved in this project (including Funders, Collaborators, Suppliers etc.) could potentially be perceived to conflict with the aims, objectives and activities of UCL or risk reputational damage by association?

10. Overseas activity: Will any UCL-led research activity take place outside of the UK?
11. Human participants, tissue or data: Does the project involve human participants, their tissue or their data (including data provided by third parties such as HSCIC)?
12. Material Transfer: Will the project require materials to be exchanged between project partners or collaborators, or be imported from third parties?

Translational Research

If your project aims to translate discoveries into health benefits you should contact the UCL Translational Research Office at the earliest opportunity for support and guidance.