Two new members are being sought for the Isle of Man Research and Ethics Committee, the body responsible for reviewing health and social care research projects carried out on the island.

The committee’s remit includes reviewing research proposals to formally assess if the research and the processes being used are ethical where they involve human participants, tissue or identifiable data.

With vacancies for an expert member and a lay member, applications are invited from those with prior experience of working in the fields of health and social care or research as well as those with no previous involvement in this area.

The chair of the Isle of Man Research and Ethics Committee, Lillian Boyle, said: ’As we have seen with the Covid-19 pandemic and the quest for new treatments, research is a fundamental part of advancing modern science. Harnessing research to transform the care people receive can be a powerful tool for good, but with that comes the need for responsibility and governance to ensure people are protected.

"The job of the committee is to ensure that any health and social care research undertaken in the Isle of Man respects the dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing of the people who participate.

’This is an exciting opportunity for those with an interest in research in health and social care. We hope we receive applications from as wide a cross-section of our island as possible.’

Regardless of the level of experience, full training in research ethics will be provided.

Positions are voluntary, but expenses may be claimed for travel to meetings and training events.

The closing date for applications is August 31.

Full details of the role and an application form are available upon request from Dr Paul Macadam, Research and Development, by telephoning 685987, emailing [email protected] or writing to Public Health Directorate, Cronk Coar, Strang, IM4 4RJ.