Research Committee Terms of Reference

Date Approved by Research Committee: 2nd October 2020
Date Approved by Executive: 11th December 2020
Date of Review: December 2022

Reporting
The BSG Research Committee is accountable to the BSG Executive.

Purpose

To promote and support research within the BSG
To represent the interests of BSG members interested in research
To encourage members to undertake research through training, networking and guidance
To develop and implement a research strategy
To work with external bodies, nationally and internationally, to promote research into gastrointestinal and liver diseases
To support the recruitment and retention of members interested in Gastroenterology research.

Duties

To hold four meetings per calendar year
To publish an updated strategy and operational plan at least every 3 years
To monitor delivery of the research strategy
To work with BSG members and external partners to develop research priorities
To receive updates from GUTS UK
To receive updates from NIHR Specialist Interest Groups Representatives
To oversee the management of BSG Research Awards and Fellowships
To ensure the following groups are convened:
1. Liver Clinical Research Group
2. Endoscopy Clinical Research Group
3. IBD Clinical Research Group
4. Food and Function Clinical Research Group
5. Pancreas Clinical Research Group
6. Artificial Intelligence Focus Group
7. Gut Microbiota For Health Focus Group
To receive regular verbal or written reports from those groups
To keep accurate minutes of each meeting.

Membership
The membership of the Research Committee is laid out in the Regulations of the BSG.

Chair (progression from Deputy Chair; serving a 2-year term)
Deputy Chair (appointed by interview; serving a 2-year term as deputy and a 2-year term as Chair)
Chair of each of the five CRG
Leads of the AI Focus Group and GMfH Focus Group
Representation from GUTS UK
Representatives from each Section (as nominated by each Section with a maximum term of 3 years)
NIHR Speciality Group Chair - Gastroenterology
NIHR Speciality Group Chair - Hepatology
Representative from RCP Research and Academic Medicine Committee
BSG President, President Elect
Two elected Councillors

The chair can appoint individuals to the Research Committee as deemed necessary to achieve specific tasks, but such appointments shall not exceed one year. A record of co-opted members should be agreed by the Committee and members should be stood down once their task is completed.

The meeting will be quorate if, as a minimum, the following members are present:

Chair or Deputy
BSG President or President Elect
3 members representing the CRGs or Focus Groups
Representation of at least 3 sections

Clinical Research Groups

Members of the 5 CRGs will be elected and serve for a term of 3 years.
The members of each CRG will appoint a chair to serve for a term of 3 years, with the exception of the Liver CRG, which is chaired by the appointed Chair of the BASL Research Sub-Committee.