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The Health Research Authority and the National Research Ethics Service. Jonathan Fennelly-Barnwell NRES Manager – South of England. Objective. To provide prospective applicants for NHS ethical review with a brief overview of the HRA, the NRES and REC work.
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The Health Research Authority and the National Research Ethics Service Jonathan Fennelly-Barnwell NRES Manager – South of England
Objective • To provide prospective applicants for NHS ethical review with a brief overview of the HRA, the NRES and REC work
The Health Research Authority • Established as a Special Health Authority – 1 December 2011 • Budget - £9.7m • Headcount – 134 wte (154 staff)
The Health Research Authority • Chairman – Professor Jonathan Montgomery • Chief Executive – Dr Janet Wisely • Three Divisions – Corporate, NRES and Improvement
HRA Remit • NRES • IRAS • Advice, guidance, training • Section 251 • Communications and engagement • Collaboration and development steering group - A UK wide steering groupspecifically where implementation will be required not just by the HRA but by others as well to improve the research journey in the UK
NRES • the National Research Ethics Service has transformed the operation of NHS research ethics committees in the UK • NRES focusses on REC operation , the independent Research Ethics Committee review as described in Governance Arrangements for RECs • the HRA will continue to work with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations to provide a UK wide National Research Ethics Service
Stepping back--- Our journey in the UK • 1982, Institute of Medical Ethics Findings. 254 RECs contacted, 174 (69%) response (Long, T and Johnson, M, Research Ethics in the Real World, Churchill Livingstone, November 2006) • RECs unclear about their task • 153 stated that they expected to review all proposals • 21 replied that it was not compulsory for proposals to be submitted • Only seven provided guidelines • Membership varied from 1 to 73 • 14 had only doctors and nurses on the committee • Nine of these had no nurse currently • 93 had only one lay member
COREC - NRES – HRA history • 2000- Central Office for Research Ethics Committees (MREC and LREC) • 2002 – start work to implement EU Directive (required one decision for UK) • 2004– national systems (standards) • 2007 – NRES launched (protecting and facilitating) • 2008 – IRAS launched (coordination and integration) • 2011– HRA establishment – NRES core division
Why Research Ethics Committees? • Their purpose: • To protect research participants • To facilitate and promote good quality research • To protect researchers
Research Ethics Committees • Appointed by an “Appointing Authority” (in England HRA) • Recognised by United Kingdom Ethics Committee Authority
The Law, Guidance and RECs RECs deliver an ethical opinion within a legal and Health Departments policy framework. • Policy/guidance: Research Governance Framework ;Governance Arrangements for Research Ethics Committees; NRES SOPs (standard operating procedures) • Law: Handling personal data – the Data Protection Act and common law duty of confidentiality Working with tissue – The Human Tissue Act 2004 European Clinical Trials Regulations – the UK Clinical Trials Regulations 2004 and amended 2006 Research involving those who lack capacity – the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the Adult with Incapacity Act in Scotland 2001)
What does NHS ethical review involve? • The validity of the research • The welfare of the research subjects • Dignity of the research subject
Decisions by RECs • 5439 applications • 13% favourable • 17% favourable with additional conditions (enables researcher to proceed without a further opinion from the REC) • 64% provisional • 6% unfavourable
NRES proportionate review service • PRS is the sub-committee review of low risk studies • The framework for studies suitable for PRS is reviewed and agreed by the National Research Ethics Advisors Panel • A proportionate approach for low risk studies ( aim 10 working days) • Enables the appropriate focus of full committee resource
Thank you j.fennelly-barnwell@nhs.net 07825 928 414