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National Research Ethics Service
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National Patient Safety Agency - National Research Ethics Service - facilitating and promoting ethical research
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Who we are

The National Research Ethics Service (NRES) is the core function of the Health Research Authority (HRA) which was established on 01 December 2011.
NRES  is committed to enabling and supporting ethical research to maximise the benefits of research in the UK.  NRES has a duty to provide an efficient and robust ethics review service that maximises UK competitiveness for clinical research and maximises the return from investment in the UK.  Specifically, NRES provides a service that delivers:

  • One NRES ethics approval for the UK
  • Predictable, managed and efficient time-lines
  • Robust and quality assured ethical review
  • A transparent service that underpins public confidence in clinical research.

NRES consists of:
  • National Health Service Research Ethics Committees (RECs) in England;
  • Volunteer members and chairs that sit on NRES RECs;
  • NRES staff (based in NRES centres throughout England);
  • National Research Ethics Advisors’ Panel.
 
Each part of the service is equally important and they all have a vital role to play to deliver our strategic and operational goals.  Roles within NRES are undertaken with mutual understanding and respect.  To help support this aim the following working framework has been agreed: