Launch of National Research Ethics Services

The Launch of the National Research Ethics Services

The National Research Ethics Service will be formally launched on Thursday 27 March 2007. This is in
response to the Department of Health's ' Report of the Ad-Hoc Advisory Group on the Operation of NHS
Research Ethics Committees'.

The National Research Ethics Service aims to build upon improvements to the National Ethics approval
system by defining a more structured network, with ethics committee opinions to be proportionate to the level of risk presented by the study.

For studies with no material ethical issues, a streamlined process of review by small executive sub committees will be developed.

We will update you on the changes once further information has been published.