Where to book

There are different types of NHS Research Ethics Committees (RECs) across the UK, reviewing different kinds of studies.

The list below sets out different types of research proposals and where they need to be booked:

Student research  

• Single or multi-domain
• Non-CTIMP
• Book with any REC or via the Local Allocation System (LAS) in the Strategic Health Authority 
   

CTIMPs

• Single or multi-domain
• Book using the Central Allocation System(CAS) (to a Type 3 REC) 
   

Medical device study

• Single or multi-domain

• Recommend booking via the Central Allocation System (CAS), but can be booked to any REC / LAS in the Strategic Health Authority

Audit or service evaluation

• Single or multi-domain

• Check with your R&D office that this is not considered research. If it is not research, no ethical review required. Check your organisation’s approval processes

Involves adults lacking capacity to consent

(that is, research falling under the Mental Capacity Act or Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act)

• Single or multi-domain

• Book using the Central Allocation System (to a flagged REC)

Involves prisoners / young offenders or other research undertaken in prisons in England and Wales

• Single or multi-domain

• Book using the Central Allocation System (to a flagged REC)

Phase 1 CTIMPs in healthy volunteers only

• Single or multi-domain
• Directly to an NHS REC or Independent Ethics Committee with type 1 recognition. The Central Allocation System can identify the first available agenda slot in the UK for all NHS RECs that are recognised to review Phase 1 CTIMPs in healthy volunteers.   CAS will also take bookings for NHS Phase 1 CTIMPs in healthy volunteers if requested.  
  

Gene therapy or stem cell clinical trials

• Single or multi-domain

• Book via the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC)

Establishing a research tissue bank

• We recommend using the Central Allocation System, but can be booked to any REC in the Strategic Health Authority

Establishing a research database

• We recommend using the Central Allocation System, but can be booked to any REC in the Strategic Health Authority

Research funded by US Department of Health and Human Sciences

• Book using the Central Allocation System (to a flagged REC)

Research not listed above

Single domain

• Book direct with any REC / LAS (in the Strategic Health Authority only)

Multi-domain

• Book direct with any REC / LAS (preferably within the Strategic Health Authority, but may be any REC in the UK)