Information for ethics committee members

New members of the Central University Research Ethics Committee and the University's divisional and departmental research ethics committees are expected to familiarise themselves with the following related University policies and guidance. Existing members should revisit and review these documents periodically, to ensure that their knowledge remains up-to-date.

It is strongly recommended that new committee members take the online introductory training module in research involving human participants.

Further information about how the University promotes and supports research ethics and integrity more broadly is available on the research integrity pages.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee (SSH IDREC) runs termly networking meetings for departmental research ethics committees, which other ethics committee members are welcome to attend. For information about future meetings, contact ethics@socsci.ox.ac.uk.

External committee members – expressions of interest

Volunteer external members (ie those with no formal affiliation to the University of Oxford and who are not involved in research elsewhere) serve on the University’s human research ethics committees.

The interdivisional research ethics committees (IDRECs) for Medical Sciences and Social Sciences and Humanities each have a minimum of three external members. The Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee (OxTREC) has four external members. These committees provide ethical review of research involving human participants, human tissue and/or personal data.

Two external members serve on the Central University Research Ethics Committee, which has responsibility for implementing the University policy on the ethical conduct of research involving human participants, human tissue and personal data.  

All of these committees meet at least three times a year in Oxford (OxTREC meets six times a year) and review matters by correspondence between meetings.

If you are interested in receiving information about future vacancies, please email the Secretary of the Central University Research Ethics Committee (curec@admin.ox.ac.uk).

Please note that there is only a modest budget for the expenses of external members attending meetings therefore members must live within reasonable travel distance from Oxford.

Medical Sciences Ethics Committee (MS IDREC) external lay member sought

The Medical Sciences Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee is currently seeking to appoint an external lay member.  Their role will be to review applications for ethics approval for research investigations in Medical Sciences and Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences, where this involves human volunteers and/or their personal data.  They will also contribute to the development of University policies and procedures for such research.

An external member is someone who is not currently employed by, or studying at, the University or its colleges in any capacity.   They will also not be involved in research at another University or Institution.  Applicants should have an interest in contributing to ethical review and helping to ensure that the dignity, rights and welfare of all those involved in research is protected.  Specific academic qualifications or ethical expertise are not necessary.  Experience within commercial or public administration, community organisations, education, welfare services, the charitable sector or healthcare, whilst not exhaustive, could all be relevant.

Above all, desirable qualities are
•    an ability to look with objectivity at issues identified in a research proposal, demonstrating sound judgement;
•    the availability, willingness and aptitude to comment regularly and promptly on ethics applications via email
•    capacity to attend termly ethics meetings in Oxford (held in October, January and May).

This is an unpaid post, but reasonable travel costs will be reimbursed. Please note that members will therefore need to live within reasonable travel distance from Oxford.

The deadline for applications is Monday 26th February 2024.

Further information