There are more than 80 NHS Research Ethics Committees (RECs) across the UK. They exist to safeguard the rights, safety, dignity and wellbeing of research participants.
RECs consist of up to 15 members, a third of whom are 'lay' - their main professional interest is not in a research area, nor are they a registered healthcare professional.
RECs review research proposals and give an opinion about whether the research is ethical. They also look at issues such as the participant involvement in the research. The committees are entirely independent of research sponsors (the organisations responsible for the management and conduct of the research), funders and the researchers themselves. This enables them to put participants at the centre of their review.
Search Research Ethics Committees
Listings, contact information and meeting dates for RECs within the UK Health Departments’ Research Ethics Service.
RECs review around 6,000 research applications across the UK covering a wide range of research. On average, they give an opinion in less than 40 days: well within the statutory timeline of 60 days.
If you are applying to one of the following types of REC, you will need to click on the relevant link:
REC annual reports
The UK Research Ethics Committee Policy Document requires that the Appointing Authority receive and adopt the Annual reports for the Research Ethics Committees.
Annual reports for the following periods are available:
- April 2025 to March 2026
- April 2024 to March 2025
- April 2023 to March 2024
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2020 to March 2021
- April 2018 to March 2019
- April 2017 to March 2018
- April 2016 to March 2017
- April 2015 to March 2016
- April 2014 to March 2015
- April 2013 to March 2014
- April 2012 to March 2013
- April 2011 to March 2012