Further information on membership categories and how to become a REC member, can be found on the Health Research Authority (HRA) website. 

Membership is generally managed regionally, so if you are based in Edinburgh or the Lothians and are interested in the possibility of becoming a member, please send a CV and completed application form (downloadable from the HRA website) to loth.sesres@nhs.scot.

What would happen next?

SESRES usually suggests that prospective members first attend a REC meeting.

If you have any questions after the meeting, Committee Managers and Chairs will be happy to answer them.

What is expected of a REC member?

Observing a REC meeting tends to give potential applicants a sense of what is required.

REC meetings are generally held monthly at the same day/time. Most RECs meet ten times per year, and members are asked to attend at least five of these. It may be possible for one member to deputise for another, so that two people can share the meeting workload. Meetings last up to around three hours, depending on the number and complexity of applications.

SESRES expects members to read applications in advance; this is likely to take a member about the same amount of time as the meeting itself. A lead and a second reviewer are appointed for each application to ensure that two members have read each application in depth; it is fine to skim-read the others in a given agenda.

Discussions during the meeting often identify additional ethical issues.

There is also a requirement for members to undertake training relevant to their work within the REC; this could be acquired through a member’s professional role or other interests and could include activities such as listening to a relevant radio programme or podcast or reading a relevant journal article.

A credit-based system of self-directed learning is used, with a minimum of four hours of training per year. New members must complete an online induction programme, and everyone must complete online equality and diversity training each year.

Many members undertake equality and diversity training as part of their professional role and SESRES is happy to accept this as long as some form of evidence (e.g. a certificate) is provided.

SESRES recognises that all members are volunteers, and that sometimes life and work can get in the way of REC membership. It is usually easy to arrange a break in service under these circumstances, although SESRES would ask you to let them know as soon as possible if this might be necessary.

For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact SESRES using the email address provided above. Alternatively, you may wish to contact Lindsay Murray (H&S Manager, UofE CM&VM at Edinburgh bioQuarter), who has been a REC member for around twenty years. Her email address is Lindsay.Murray@ed.ac.uk

Previous members have found their time on the REC to be useful and enjoyable, and mutually beneficial both for healthcare professionals and lay people, particularly those who are also involved in research.