The first question to ask when setting up a study is 'Is it research?'.
Not all research conducted within the UK requires approval from an NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC). The HRA have developed a decision tool that will help you to determine if your study requires this type of approval. http://www.hra-decisiontools.org.uk/ethics/
if your project is research then you will need to:
- write a protocol
- find funding
- obtain sponsorship and
- apply for approval to conduct your research
Related Information
Who to contact in Research and Innovation
indicates who the best person to contact is at various stages of your research project.