Independent Research Ethics Committee
IREC is the UK's only Independent Research Ethics Committee. It was set up to provide full ethical review for proposed research projects. Our approach is guided by seven principles: intersectionality, justice, dignity, respect, fairness, honesty, and care. You can download full details of these principles here.
Institutional research ethics committees usually take a partial approach to research ethics, focusing primarily on plans for participant wellbeing and data storage. This serves to protect institutions from litigation, rather than to help researchers work ethically. Receiving formal approval for a project can lead a researcher to the mistaken and potentially dangerous conclusion that they have "done ethics". Our view is that ethics exists, and needs attention, right through the research process.
The bureaucracy associated with institutional committees is often onerous. We have designed our application process for maximum flexibility and minimum bureaucracy.
Your application will be reviewed by four diverse ethics experts with experience from a range of research settings. They will consider the ethical aspects of your project from start to finish.
You can contact IREC by email at enquiries@irec.org.uk
You can also contact us by post at:
The Office
St Mary's Crescent
Uttoxeter
Staffordshire ST14 7BH
United Kingdom
IREC is working towards setting up an Advisory Board - but in the meantime the Panel Chairs are acting as a de fact steering group.