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Our primary role as an organisation is to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health research, and to streamline the regulation of research. We are responsible for a wide range of committees and services to streamline research and you can find out all about them within this section of the website.

The Research Ethics Service (RES) is one of the Health Research Authority's core functions, committed to enabling and supporting ethical research in the NHS. It protects the rights, safety, dignity and wellbeing of research participants.

The Research Ethics Service (RES) is one of our core functions and is committed to enabling and supporting ethical research in the NHS. It protects the rights, safety, dignity and wellbeing of research participants.

There are more than 80 NHS Research Ethics Committees across the UK. They exist to safeguard the rights, safety, dignity and well-being of research participants.

Are you looking for a voluntary role where you can make a real difference? Whether you’ve got experience of working in research, 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. #StepForward and get involved in approving exciting new research and apply today.

Under the UK Health Departments Governance Arrangements for Research Ethics Committees (GAfREC), each Research Ethics Committee (REC) within the Research Ethics Service, is required to adopt Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) approved by or on behalf of its appointing authority. The REC is required to act in accordance with its SOPs and is ultimately accountable to its appointing authority for its governance in this respect.

Flagged Research Ethics Committees (RECs) are RECs designated for review of particular types of application due to having relevant professional, academic and ethical expertise among the committee’s membership, including expertise acquired through training or previous experience in the relevant field of research ethics.