Dr Judy Laing recently participated in a roundtable of experts to comment on a new guidance document which is being developed for the National Research Ethics Service (NRES). The purpose of the document is to help Research Ethics Committees address the crucial issue of post-trial access to trial treatments in an informed, practical and fair way. The development of the document is funded by NRES, the Wellcome Trust and the Brocher Foundation in Geneva.

The NRES is part of the National Patient Safety Agency and its role is to provide ethical review of research by Research Ethics Committees (RECs) as well as providing ethical guidance and management support to RECs.