Running and overseeing research

Term	Definition
Chief Investigator (CI)	See: Principal Investigator (PI).
Ethical Approvals	Agreement from a group of experts that a piece of research is done in a proper and respectful way. Ethical approvals ensure that participants' rights are protected and all the research is conducted responsibly.
Principal Investigator (PI)	The researcher in charge of a project or study at a particular site (e.g. hospital or university). The PI is responsible for overseeing the study's progress, coordinating with the team members involved, and ensuring that the research is conducted according to the approved plan. The PI plays a crucial role in managing the study.
Research Approvals	All research that involves data from individuals must get approval from an authorised body. For research with NHS data, for example, this would be the NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC). Approvals committees often include both researchers and members of the public, and their job is to make sure that the research is planned and conducted in a fair and ethical way and that it benefits the public.