REC application form / checklist and guidance
You must apply for ethical review by an NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC) using the form in Integrated Research Applications System (IRAS). Guidance on completing the form and supporting documentation is available on the IRAS website.
All applications must be accompanied by the research protocol and relevant documents, as per the applicant's checklist (which must also be submitted). Incomplete applications cannot be validated and therefore cannot be reviewed by the REC.
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Preparing to book the application
If you are the applicant, you must ensure that your application is ready to submit when you telephone to book it in for ethical review.
In order to be ready to submit:
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the REC application form must have been completed and ready to be signed by the chief investigator
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you must also have all of the supporting documentation together, as outlined in the REC application form checklist.
All documents:
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must bear version numbers and dates (except where indicated on checklist);
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marked as mandatory on the checklist must be submitted in all cases for the application to be valid;
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should be printed on one side of the paper only;
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when collated, should not be stapled as they will need to be photocopied.
Advance bookings will not be accepted.
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Booking the application
Once you are ready to submit, you should telephone either:
in order to book an agenda slot at the next meeting of the appropriate REC. To decide which of these is appropriate, see Where to book.
When contacting the REC / LAS / CAS you will be asked a series of questions in relation to the study, so you should have the application form in front of you to help with the booking process.
When booking, you will be offered the first available agenda slot within the UK. You may however, request review by a named committee, but if you choose this option the 60-day clock will start from the submission date of the REC and not the date of application receipt. We strongly recommend that you, and in the case of student research, your academic supervisor, attend the meeting. Therefore you should choose a meeting when you will be available to attend.
When the booking process is complete you will be given the name of the REC, a REC reference number and a submission date.
You should submit your application to the REC within four working days of making the booking. (At the discretion of the REC co-ordinator, a later submission date may be agreed provided the application is received no later than the closing date for the relevant meeting.)
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