Panel Members

About the role

The HTA programme receives and identifies important HTA research questions that the NHS needs answered and then commissions the research to meet this need. This is done either by advertising a call for proposals on specific topics, or by funding evaluations, studies and trials proposed directly by researchers. In both cases, the advice of an HTA panel is a vital part of the process. Membership is drawn from those who use, manage, provide care in or develop policy for the NHS and is open to people from across the UK.

Members of HTA panels:

  • advise on the importance to the NHS of research recommendations or proposals
  • provide comment based on specialist knowledge
  • clarify and refine research questions – for HTA panels
  • develop comments and advice to be fed back to applicants – for Clinical Evaluation and Trial proposals

The expert advice of panel members is needed on:

  • the current state of knowledge in health sciences
  • the current foreseeable needs of the NHS for new research
  • the type of research needed (primary research, evidence synthesis)
  • the appropriate timescale

Tenure and commitments

The duration of panel membership is between two and four years. The commitment over this period is to attend four one-day meetings in London each year, each with preparatory paperwork. Members are not paid, but costs for travel and expenses (including GP locum expenses) to attend panel or group meetings are reimbursed. Members are required to declare any conflicts of interest.

About panel members

Members are selected for their individual expertise and are not considered to be representative of any professional group or particular clinical interest. Professional panel members are expected to have:

  • relevant professional qualifications
  • appropriate professional registration, for example GMC Specialist Register, Nursing Register etc.
  • current or recent experience of working in or with the NHS at a senior level
  • knowledge of current NHS practice
  • knowledge of, or interest in, research or education
  • awareness of Government health strategies and NIHR programmes (desirable but not essential)
  • previous experience of serving on a committee (desirable but not essential)

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