Ethical review

The application made via the integrated research application system (IRAS) includes ethical review of your study, enabling a UK network of independent research ethics committees (RECs) to review the protocol and give opinion on ethical aspects and acceptability of the proposed activity. 

IRAS provides your study information to the UK REC service where it is allocated to an available ethics committee for review through an online process.

RECs are entirely independent of research sponsors, funders and researchers. This ensures they put participants and their dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing at the centre of their review.

The seven RECs in Wales are part of the UK REC service.