Carol Smee

Head of Research Governance for Trusted Global Compliance

I lead the 'non-human materials' sub-team within Research Governance. We are responsible for advising members of Sanger Institute staff about compliance with Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) regulations (including the Nagoya Protocol), supporting applications for import authorisations for research materials, advising on protected species licences and protected area permissions, and supporting applications for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permits. We, therefore, enable compliance with applicable regulations and associated Institute policies, and make informed judgment calls relating to relevant processes whilst mitigating any potential institutional risks. We also carry out ethical assessments when materials from sentient animals are to be used in research, and I led the Animal Materials Working Group in creating the Ethical Framework for Obtaining Materials from Sentient Animals which is published on the UKRIO website (see link below). The team helps achieve compliance through the initiation, administration and development of internal processes, audit and monitoring, and communicate regulatory and policy requirements using a variety of means, including team talks, induction and training sessions, pre-recorded training materials and face-to-face meetings. We lead on consultation responses for the Institute where national or international proposals for changes to relevant research legislation may impact on our research, or where we wish to join the debate on ethical research practice. 

The Research Governance team works closely with Faculty, researchers, Research Managers, Project Managers, Heads of Operations, laboratory managers, and many other staff in the scientific programmes, Scientific Operations and Management Operations, to promote and monitor regulatory compliance, enable the maintenance of high ethical standards in research, provide advice and guidance on research regulation and associated internal policies, and enable GRL to fulfill its responsibilities as a sponsor of research studies.

My timeline

• Head of Research Governance for Trusted Global Compliance, Wellcome Sanger Institute

• Head of Research Governance, Wellcome Sanger Institute

• Regulatory Compliance Manager, Wellcome Sanger Institute

• Regulatory Adviser, Wellcome Sanger Institute

• Senior Scientist, Prolysis Ltd., Oxford

• Research Assistant, Structural Genomics Consortium, Oxford

• Chief Microbiology Technician, University of West of England

• Senior Microbiology Technician, University of West of England

• Fermentation Technician, University of East Anglia

• Research and Development Technician, Continental Wine Experts Ltd., Norfolk

• Education Officer with the National Trust (Dunwich Heath Nature Reserve) and River Inspector (Broads Authority, Norfolk Broads)

• Microbiology Researcher, University of Luton

• Secondary School and Sixth Form Teacher (Biology/Chemistry)