Research Ethics Committee workshops

REC workshop 1: Reviewing clinical (non-NHS) research

Monday 14 September 2026

UKRIO’s new series of six workshops, hosted by Prof Simon Kolstoe, has been designed specifically for Research Ethics Committee (REC) members, REC Chairs and those professionals supporting RECs. The first of these sessions brought colleagues together to discuss ethics reviews in clinical (non-NHS) research, providing a dedicated, trusted space to discuss existing challenges, consider emerging issues, and share approaches.  

In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) RECs (coordinated through the Health Research Authority (HRA)) review specific types of health and social care research to provide an independent opinion on whether the research is ethical. Determining which research is in or out of scope for NHS RECs can be challenging. This session explored the background of clinical research and the depth of governance surrounding this highly regulated area. The discussion highlighted the elements of research projects that determine when NHS/HRA ethics review might be required, and when projects should be reviewed elsewhere, such as by a research organisation’s REC.