Our Research Ethics Committee (REC) give their time to help protect the dignity, rights and safety of research participants, by reviewing research studies that will take place in the NHS and social care.
It’s important that our committees are made up of people with a variety of skills and experiences, to make sure that we have insights from different perspectives. This includes members of the public who have never worked in healthcare or research.
Joshua Smith is studying Mathematics and Physics at Royal Holloway, University of London and balances his studies with being a member of the Oxford C REC. He talks about why he became a REC member, how it works alongside his studies, and the skills, support and training that he’s gained.
I joined a REC in July 2024 because good research needs more than expertise. It needs perspective, the right checks and balances, and the public voice at the table.Why did you decide to join a Research Ethics Committee?
The HRA has been careful to make sure that REC work does not cut across my study, paid work, or other engagements. In truth, it has strengthened all of them. The degree is intensive as expected but the REC commitment is manageable. Monthly full meetings last about 4 hours, usually with around 4 applications to review, and each study has a lead and a second reviewer. I’ve been the second reviewer multiple times where I learned a great deal working alongside clinicians, researchers, and members of the public from vastly different walks of life - all there for the public good. There are also sub-committees for proportionate review and amendments which members must attend online. These are rota-based and in some cases I have had the opportunity to lead the review of an application.How does being a member work alongside your studies?
I’ve learned many practical skills such as empathy, critical thinking, time management, self-discipline and clear communication. I’ve also had had the opportunity of being a part of real ethical research review within a national, regulated process. One part of the review that I’ve enjoyed is the questioning - putting precise, respectful challenges to professors, clinicians, and chief investigators on protocols, participant-facing materials, study design, and risk-benefit - and then learning from their responses and the discussion as a whole. It’s a level of grown-up conversation that you rarely encounter as an undergraduate. Those habits translated into my degree projects and presentations, and into industry work during a recent summer internship where disciplined questioning and stakeholder awareness mattered as much as technical skill.What skills have you gained as part of the Research Ethics Service?
The HRA member support team has been there every step of the way and are swift and clear on process, guidance, and relevant law. I have received training from NIHR and the HRA which is well-designed and wide-ranging including: equality diversity and inclusion, GDPR, clinical trials regulation, adults lacking capacity, medical ethics, medical devices, databases, how research works, and even stepping towards chairing. Our Chair and Vice Chairs were welcoming from day one. They valued the perspective a younger lay member could bring and signposted training that helped me move from getting my bearings to reviewing with confidence. I have had the opportunity to review everything from oncology Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPs) alongside the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), to studies involving adults lacking capacity. I also had the opportunity to be mentored by a Chair from a different REC, which was key early on. They were wise, enthusiastic, and generous with their time and pointed us in the right direction, helped us find our footing, and continued to support us well beyond induction.How has the HRA supported you as a member?
The online REC development day stood out for me, which was attended by REC members, chairs, NHS and HRA leaders, because it gave me the opportunity to connect with members across the UK and hear their different perspectives and expertise. The sessions helped me understand the wider context of ethics review and made me feel part of a national community of reviewers, which was very motivating. I was also able to apply the practical skills I learned in reviews, which gave me greater confidence in my role. Another highlight was a session with the Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) Chair and HRA CAG Manager. It was useful to see where the remit of the CAG aligns with that of a REC, and where it differs. I later observed a full CAG meeting. Listening to experts from different fields test ideas and perspectives was instructive and insightful.What has been your highlight as a REC member?
People can be put off by fancy-sounding titles, assuming they lack the expertise. In reality, everyone brings something unique - lived experience, perspective, curiosity - and that is the point. If in doubt, apply is my advice. The NHS/HRA community is welcoming. Remember: it is everyone’s first time living too. If you care about integrity, fairness of opportunity, and the rights and dignity of participants, and if you are willing to think critically and act pragmatically, you are already a good fit for an HRA REC.What would you say to a student who is thinking about becoming a REC member?
Considering applying to become a REC member?
Whether you’ve got experience of working in healthcare , or none at all, we’re looking for people like you to join our Research Ethics Committees (REC) and help review vital health and social care research.