Ethics
All research that involves NHS service users, identifiable data or tissues require a ‘favourable opinion’ from the National Research Ethics Service (NRES) before proceeding with the research.
The Research Ethics Committee will review the study ensuring that it is worthwhile, of value and ethical. They are particularly interested in protecting the rights and safety of any potential research participants.
To go through the ethics approval system, several items need to be in place prior to submission. All research studies require a sponsor, funding, and the scientific value of the research to be assessed through independent, external, peer review.
You will need to determine which ethics committee to apply to:
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA medicines- Clinical
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Notice of No Objection (Medical Device)
- Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory
- Confidentiality Advisor Group
- National Offender Management Service
- Human Tissue Authority
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
When both the ethics approval and governance checks are complete, the NHS Trust R&D approval is issued and the study can commence.