Under the Research Ethics approval system, what is a research domain and how does it affect my application?
A research domain is the area of the UK in which nine research sites are located and the research is conducted. It is not relevant where the research participants are resident, or which Primary Care Trust is responsible for the participants’ primary care. This includes domains where participant-related research procedures specified in the protocol – including recruitment and informed consent – are carried out. Referral of a patient (possibly from another domain) for assessment and possible recruitment is not part of the conduct of the trial. The following are not considered to be research sites: • Primary Care Trusts responsible for participants primary care unless participating in the conduct of the study. • Clinicians or clinical units making referrals to the research team • Research units undertaking support functions, e.g. project management, site monitoring, data analysis, report writing. A “domain” is defined as follows: • In England, the area covered by a NHS Strategic Health Au
