Request ethical approval

Additional Approval

Approval through NICR should proceed as outlined below.

Staff applying to IRAS

Staff applying through IRAS for ethical approval of their study should complete and submit an IRAS application form. Staff do not require NICR approval before they submit through IRAS.

Once submitted staff should also lodge details of their IRAS application through the Ethics Review Manager (ERM) where they will be asked to upload a PDF copy of their IRAS application.

Students

Students should complete an IRAS application form, but not submit it. Instead, they should save a copy of the IRAS PDF form and submit it through ERM for review by the NICR Panel. Only once NICR have granted approval for submission through IRAS should the application be submitted.

You must discuss with the appropriate NHD R&D Office as to whether NHS R&D approval ONLY is required, or whether NHS R&D and NHS REC approval is required, and seek guidance from them as to the subsequent application process.

The NICR panel meets regularly throughout the year to consider ethical approval applications. See their schedule of upcoming meetings and submission deadlines below.

• HRA Learning and Development
• IRAS Guidance
• NHS Health Research Authority
• HRA Guidance on the General Data Protection Regulation
• Public Patient Involvement (PPI) Guidance (INVOLVE)
• Human Tissue Authority Codes of Practice
• Relevant material under the Human Tissue Act 2004
• Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health research resources
• UK Policy framework for health and social care (2018)
• HRA Amending an approval
• Applying a proportionate approach to the process of seeking consent (HRA Guidance)