National Research and Ethics Advisors' Panel

Last updated on 13 Feb 2024

The National Research and Ethics Advisors' Panel (NREAP) is an independent, multidisciplinary expert panel which provides advice to the Health Research Authority (HRA) on an ad-hoc basis. The panel encompasses expertise in a wide range of disciplines related to health research including bioethics, medical research, patient and public involvement and Research Ethics Committees (RECs).

In 2017 the panel expanded its scope in line with the HRA’s wider remit and statutory functions and membership increased from eight to around 50 people to include a number of specialist areas such as paediatric research, social care research, mental capacity, and research governance. 

The main responsibilities of the panel are to: 

  • give non-binding advice to the HRA on policy development, and to review guidance and policy developed outside of the panel or by third parties 
  • provide comments to inform HRA responses to external consultations 
  • identify emerging issues with potential policy implications for HRA as part of its horizon scanning duty
  • contribute to public debate on ethical issues/policy/guidance at HRA hosted events
  • chair ad hoc advisory groups and working parties.

While the HRA Directions 2011 apply only in England (by virtue of section 271 of the National Health Service Act 2006) NREAP, appointed by UKECA, will continue to be a resource available to all RECs funded by the UK health departments within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

The panel complements the HRA’s established stakeholder routes for seeking advice such as the patient panel, links with industry bodies such as the ABPI, UK-wide boards such as UKCRC and the HRA-convened meetings such as the HRA Collaboration and Development Forum. 

Contact the panel 

The panel is always happy to receive suggestions regarding issues that might require advice and/or guidance, and can be contacted through the Ethics Policy Manager

Further details can be found in the panel Terms of Reference

NREAP guidance 

NREAP guidance is published in response to the need for new guidance not duplicated elsewhere. 

When identified, requests can be raised through researchers and RECs. If you wish to raise an issue relating to research ethics, please contact the Ethics Policy Manager in the first instance for advice. 

Our published guidance 

  1. Disclosing information about a research participant without consent and appropriate action for a researcher when seeing poor practice
  2. Follow-up contact of potential participants who have not responded to an initial invitation to take part in research
  3. Regarding the issuing of addenda to participant information sheets
  4. Regarding conflicts of interest
  5. Consistency in REC review 
  6. Payments and incentives in research 

NREAP people 

Members are appointed to the panel by direct invitation by the HRA. Where appropriate, appointments of individuals from the Devolved Administrations are made in consultation with the UK Health Departments’ Research Ethics Service and the appointing authorities of the RECs within that service. 

All members are appointed on a staggered basis to either three, four or five year terms to ensure continuity of membership. Appointments may be renewable at the end of the first period of office; however, members should not normally serve more than two consecutive terms. 

New members may be suggested for consideration by the HRA and appointments made to the panel at any time. 

  • John Aldridge, Leicester South REC Chair
  • Prof Richard Ashcroft, Queen Mary University of London
  • Prof Wendy Baird, Research Design Service (RDS)
  • Prof David Bartlett, King’s College London Dental Institute/London Bridge REC
  • Prof Peter Bower, University of Manchester
  • Dr Malcolm Boyce, Hammersmith Medicines Research
  • Dr Rhona Bratt, Leeds West REC
  • Dr Jay Brown, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Dr Melanie Calvert, University of Birmingham
  • Dr Victoria Chico, Sheffield University
  • Dr Kate Craig, Wales REC 1/University Hospital of Wales
  • Dr Hugh Davies, Oxford A REC
  • Prof Mary Dixon-Woods, Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research
  • Mr Chris Foy, Oxford B REC
  • Prof Helen Galley, University of Aberdeen
  • Dr Kate Gillies, University of Aberdeen
  • Susan Harrison, Social Care REC
  • Prof Adam Hedgecoe, Cardiff University
  • Prof Søren Holm, Manchester University
  • Glenys Hunt, Liverpool East REC
  • Prof Jane Kaye, Oxford University
  • Dr John Keen, City and East REC
  • Prof Susan Kelly, Exeter University
  • Dr Peter Knapp, University of York
  • Prof Martin Knapp, London School of Economics (LSE)
  • Dr Simon Kolstoe, Hampshire A REC/MoDREC
  • Dr Alan Lamont, Cambridge East REC
  • Prof Graeme Laurie, University of Edinburgh
  • Prof Penney Lewis, King’s College, London
  • Prof Suzanne Mason, University of Sheffield
  • Prof Neena Modi, Imperial College London/Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health
  • Dr Michael Philpot, Dulwich REC
  • Prof Philip Preshaw, Newcastle and North Tyneside 1
  • Dr Annette Rid, Kings College London
  • Dr Mark Sheehan, Oxford University
  • Adam Smith, University College London 
  • Prof Tim Sprosen, Oxford University/All Trials
  • Dr Harriet Teare, Oxford University
  • Dr Catherine Urch, West London & GTAC REC
  • Prof Tjeerd Van Staa , University of Manchester 
  • Dr Pete Wall, Wales REC 3
  • Professor Nigel Wellman, Oxfordshire REC
  • Dr Phil White, Wales REC 5
  • Dr Simon Woods, Newcastle University
  • Dr Kerry Woolfall, University of Liverpool
  • Dr Ian Woollands, South Yorkshire REC
  • Prof Jeremy Wyatt, University of Southampton 

NREAP Meetings

Under the revised terms of reference introduced in 2017, the NREAP no longer hold formal meetings, however you can find the minutes of the NREAP Panel in its pre-2017 format by visiting the NREAP meetings page.

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