Beacon Hospital Research Institute -

According to the Health Research Board “Research is designed and conducted to generate new generalisable or transferable knowledge”. The ultimate goal of any research undertaken is to obtain results that may contribute to appropriate and improved healthcare directed at meeting patient needs.

What is Research?

Research Ethics Committees (RECs) play a central role in the research process. However, the tasks and responsibilities for RECs have become more demanding and increasingly complex over the last decade.

RECs are tasked with:

Upholding the rights of all research participants
Assessing the risks and benefits of research
Ensuring consent is valid and without duress
Protecting confidentiality and privacy of all medical and personal data
Monitoring and auditing ongoing and completed research

Increasingly, research is being conducted on a National and International level and across multiple academic and industrial sites. This further complicates the process for RECs to maintain a coherent yet applicant accessible approach.

Here at the Beacon Hospital we on the REC wish to act as facilitators of research.

We review and offer advice on research involving:

All patients of Beacon Hospital
All relatives and carers of patients of Beacon Hospital
All Beacon Hospital staff recruited as research participants
All past and present collected personal data

If you wish to conduct research under the auspices of Beacon Hospital, you must have approval from the Beacon Hospital Research Ethics Committee:

Committee Members

REC Committee Members: 2025

Chair: Dr Ruth Pilkington, Director of Education, Research & Medical Office Beacon Hospital

Chair: Dr. Mark Howard, Beacon Hospital Consultant in Palliative Medicine

Members:

Ms. Ailish Daly, Director of PSQI Beacon Hospital
Ms. Fiona Kirwan, Director of Clinical Services Beacon Hospital
Ms. Sharon Derham, Assistant Director of Nursing Beacon Hospital
Dr. Lisa Prior, Consultant Medical Oncologist Beacon Hospital
Prof. David Burke, Consultant Cardiologist Beacon Hospital
Dr. Karen Ryan, Research Administration Manger Beacon Hospital Research Institute
Mr. Anthony Pierce, Allied Health Manager Beacon Hospital
Ms. Roisin Conaty, Clinical Research Associate in Radiotherapy Beacon Hospital
Mr Seamus Dunne, Head of Pharmacy Services Beacon Hospital
Ms. Orla Cullen, Legal Counsel Beacon Hospital
Dr. Suzanne Meenan, Head of Psychology Beacon Hospital
Dr. Rozana Rahman, Consultant Medical Oncologist Beacon Hospital
Mr. Ken Murray, IT Manager Beacon Hospital
Mr. Stephen McMahon, Irish Patients Association

Application Deadlines and Meeting Dates

MEETING DATES 2025	SUBMISSION DEADLINE	STATUS
Tuesday 28th January	Friday 17th January @17:00 IST	Open
Tuesday 25th February	Friday 14th February @17:00 IST	Open
Tuesday 25th March	Friday 14th March @17:00 IST	Open
Tuesday 29th April	Friday 18th April @17.00 IST	Open
Tuesday 27th May	Friday 16th May @17:00 IST	Open
Tuesday 24th June	Friday 13th June @17:00 IST	Open
Tuesday 29th July	Friday 18th July @17:00 IST	Open
Tuesday 26th August	Friday 15th August @17:00 IST	Open
Tuesday 30th September	Friday 19th September @17:00 IST	Open
Thursday 30th October	Friday 17th October @17:00 IST	Open
Thursday 27th November	Friday 14th November @17:00 IST	Open
Thursday 18th December	Friday 5th December @17:00 IST	Open

Ethics Application Forms and Fee Structures

STUDIES OTHER THAN CLINICAL TRIALS OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

Ethics Committee Local Checklist and Signatory Page
Participant Information Leaflet and Informed Consent Form (PIL/ICF) Template
Data Protection Impact Assessment Form (DPIA) Template
Research Ethics Committee Standard Application Form
Guidance Manual for RECSAF Form Completion
National Consent Policy
BHREC invoice details form

FEE STRUCTURE

	Initial Application	Amendment
Industry-led studies/ Commercial Sponsor	€1500	€500
Investigator-led research (external)	€150	€50
Investigator-led research (internal)	Fee waiver	Fee waiver

Please note: All studies which are investigator led by a Beacon Hospital Staff Member are subject to a fee waiver.

Tips and Guidelines

	Engage EARLY and OFTEN with the REC for Help and Support
	Allow 2 – 3 Months for the Application Process
	If you cannot check ✓ Forms on the CHECKLIST before submitting your application – your application will not be sent to the REC for consideration

Click here for a guide to applying to the Beacon Hospital Research Ethics Committee

Checklist

Cover Letter Listing All Documents to be Reviewed
Research Ethics Committee Standard Application Form
Participant Information Leaflet/Informed Consent Form
Data Protection Impact Assessment Form
Local Checklist and Signatory Form
CV of Principal Investigator (Signed and Dated)
Recruitment Material/Posters
Questionnaire/Interview Prompts/Protocols
Evidence of Previously Approved Ethics
Proof of Current Insurance for Each Investigator Not covered by Clinical Indemnity
Proof of Current Insurance for Each Site Not covered by Clinical Indemnity
Certificate of Insurance for Sponsor for Externally Funded Studies
Applicable Fees