We’re very sad to share the news that Dr David Carpenter, Chair of South Central Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee (REC), has died after a short illness.
David was a REC member for 24 years and made an incredibly valuable contribution to UK health and social care research in that time. During the pandemic, David’s committee worked closely with Professor Sir Andrew Pollard and his team at the University of Oxford on some of the earliest COVID-19 vaccine studies.
When the first vaccine was approved, David shared more about what this had involved, and about his invaluable contribution to world-first research, in this news story.
Matt Westmore, Chief Executive“We are so sad to hear of the loss of David. He was a dedicated REC Chair, who volunteered so much of his time to supporting the work of the HRA. His wisdom and passion for ethical research made a profound impact, and while he will be greatly missed, his legacy will endure in the studies he helped shape and the lives they have improved.
"All of our thoughts are with David’s family and friends, with his REC colleagues, and with the staff who worked most closely with him.”
Dr Simon Kolstoe, Chair of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire REC"I worked with David for many years at the University of Portsmouth and HRA, and latterly through the UK Research Integrity Office and various other training contexts.
"I learned an incredible amount from David, often initially through good-natured disagreement that we subsequently turned into joint papers and articles, mostly written in coffee shops. His contribution to research ethics over the last thirty years or more has shaped both how RECs work, and also facilitated a huge amount of research that has been influential in shaping clinical care.
"His jovial nature, fedora hat and wise friendship will be sadly missed."