Welcome

The Beaumont Hospital Ethics (Medical Research) Committee reviews applications to undertake research in Beaumont Hospital, and is recognised to provide a single national research ethics committee opinion in limited circumstances - see list of recognised committees

This committee cannot review studies which fall under the remit of the National Office for Research Ethics Committees (NRECs) - see NREC-CT and NREC-MD, but can review amendments and receive reports and notifications in relation to studies which previously fell under the remit of the NREC-COVID19 since this committee was disbanded on the 31st August 2024.

This committee reviews research studies only. It does not review activities such as audit, service evaluation or quality improvement which fall under the remit of the Clinical Governance Department nor does it review activities related to routine care.

This committee is not a clinical ethics committee. It does not provide ethical advice in relation to ethical dilemmas arising in clinical practice.

The committee reviews research studies from an ethical perspective and to ensure that the study as designed will answer the research question posed.

All studies are validated upon receipt, and then sent for review by the hospital Data Protection Officer (DPO) - the DPO reviews studies from the perspective of compliance with data protection law.

All research contracts and agreements undergo separate legal review by the Legal Services Department

Research Ethics Approval is one of a number of approvals required in the hospital site sign off process before a research is permitted to commence in the hospital.