UK-wide system for ethical review

Policy responsibility for the Research Ethics Services in each part of the United Kingdom is as follows:

 

England

• Public Health Agency (R&D Division)

Northern Ireland

• Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Research & Development Office)

Scotland

• Scottish Executive (Chief Scientist Office)

Wales

• National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (NISCHR), Wales

 
Together, the RECs recognised by the above bodies form the UK Health Departments’ Research Ethics Service. All RECs in the Research Ethics Service have adopted the Standard Operating Procedures issued by NRES.

• NRES SOPs
  

All applications to RECs in the Research Ethics Service are made using the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS).

• IRAS

Except where research involves adults unable to consent for themselves in both England / Wales and Scotland, only one ethical review is required for any research study in the UK.