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Office for Research Ethics Committees (NI)

The Office of Research Ethics Committees NI (OREC)

The Office of Research Ethics Committees NI supports the Health and Social Care Research Ethics Committees (HSC RECs) to review proposed research involving HSC or NHS service users, or for other studies where there is a legal or policy requirement for ethical review.

Our aim is to protect the rights, safety, dignity and well-being of research participants, and to facilitate and promote ethical research that is of potential benefit to participants, science and society.

We are part of the wider UK Research Ethics Service, working to a common set of standards and criteria set by the Health Research Authority (HRA) and endorsed by the respective UK Health Departments.

Our role is to:

• ensure the HSC RECs comply with the governance arrangements set out in the UK Governance Arrangements for Research Ethics Committees (GAfREC) and the UK Clinical Trials Regulations (2004)
• offer training to our REC members
• provide administrative support to the HSC RECs
• develop and maintain effective working arrangements with other research governance stakeholders in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

NOTE: We are currently operating a hybrid working policy for staff. All HSC REC meetings are held online.


  • Contact Us

    Office for Research Ethics Committees Northern Ireland (ORECNI)

    Business Services Organisation
    Unit 4, Lissue Industrial Estate West
    Rathdown Walk
    Moira Road
    Lisburn

    BT28 2RF (use google maps)

    General ORECNI Tel: 028 9536 1400

    Email: info.orecni@hscni.net

    Hours of Operation:

    Monday – Thursday: 9am – 5pm

    Friday – 9am – 4pm

  • How to Find Us

    Office for Research Ethics Committees Northern Ireland (ORECNI)

    Business Services Organisation
    Unit 4, Lissue Industrial Estate West
    Rathdown Walk
    Moira Road
    Lisburn

    BT28 2RF (use google maps)

    Lissue Industrial Estate West is approximately 2 miles west of Lisburn on the Moira Road.

    Important NB: Please use Google Maps and enter ORECNI for directions. We are based behind ‘Warmflow’ off Rathdown Road on Rathdown Walk.

    Click here for map and directions.

    Please note: There are limited parking spaces.