There are 2 HSC RECs: HSC REC A and HSC REC B. The Business Services Organisation (BSO) is the Appointing Authority for the HSC RECs.
The HSC RECs review a wide range of research proposals, including clinical trials to prevent or alleviate symptoms of chronic disease, plus interventions in the field of mental health and social science.
HSC RECs are made up of voluntary members who give considerable time, effort and expertise to review research applications. Each REC comprises both “lay” and “expert” members, as defined by the UK Clinical Trials Regulations (2004).
Both HSC RECs are legally ‘Recognised’ by the UK Ethics Committee Authority (UKECA) to review Clinical Trials of an Investigational Medicinal Product (CTIMP). In addition, both RECs are flagged as having expertise in the review of different types of research (see below)
| HSC REC A | HSC REC B | |
| Type 1 (i.e. legally recognised to review CTIMPS in healthy volunteers) | Yes | Yes |
| Type 3 (i.e. legally recognised to review CTIMPS in patients) | Yes | Yes |
| Establishing Research Databases | No | Yes |
| Establishing Research Tissue Banks | Yes | Yes |
| Gene Therapy or Stem Cell Clinical Trials | No | No |
| IRB Registered[1] | No | Yes |
| Medical Device Study | Yes | Yes |
| Qualitative Research | Yes | Yes |
| Research Involving Adults Lacking Capacity | Yes | Yes |
| Research Involving Children | Yes | Yes |
| Research Involving Prisoners or Prisons | Yes | Yes |
| Social Care Research | Yes | Yes |
Both HSC RECs in Northern Ireland are audited by the Health Research Authority (HRA) every two years.
[1] Institutional Review Board registration is necessary to review studies funded by the US Dept of Health and Human Services.