Submitting the Application to NHS REC - Online

GCU REC approvals for your project is required before submitting for NHS REC approvals.

The online booking service is used for all IRAS form applications for project-based research in the NHS and for Research Ethics Committee (REC) applications for tissue banks, databases and health research taking place outside of the NHS/HSC. You will be offered a slot for a REC which is suitable for the type of study. Where there is more than one suitable REC or meeting date, you will be given a choice to select the one you prefer.

For guidance on how to make your booking, log in to IRAS and navigate to the ‘e-submission’ tab of the form you wish to submit. Here you will find a detailed step-by-step process, and a direct link to the booking portal.

When your application is ready to be submitted to NHS REC you need to decide where to apply and book a slot at the next meeting of an appropriate REC through the Central Allocation Centre (0845 270 4400, weekdays, from 9.30am to 4pm).

When you book, you will need to have your application in front of you as you will be asked a series of questions to determine which Research Ethics Committees (RECs) are suitable, dependent on the study type. 

You will be unable to make a booking until all of the electronic authorisations are in place, any relevant verification checks are passed, and the REC IRAS checklist has been completed with the correct subtitles, versions and dates and the corresponding documents have been uploaded to the checklist ready for submission. The process you need to follow is detailed in the step-by-step instructions on the form’s e-submission tab in IRAS.

RECs are geographically located across the UK. You do not have to choose your nearest REC, although that option may be available, depending on the type of research you plan to undertake. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend meetings in person, although teleconference facilities can be made available on request. 

**All RECs are currently operating virtually (via teleconference) due to the restrictions that are in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. **