Aide-mémoire for preparing a protocol.

Reviewing some of the activities of the regional research committees in England and their equivalent in the Welsh Office, Williams' 2considered that the scheme is not yet widely used: "In some regions prospective researchers, especially those without previous experience, need a comprehensive and easily identifiable counselling service, so that the fund may be exploited in the way originally intended and the number of unsuccessful proposals reduced." The South-east Thames Regional Health Authority's regional research committee (chairman Dr D I Williams) is trying to meet some of these points. Members of the research committee, and many other people when approached by the committee, are only too willing to advise people wanting to do research. In addition the committee has produced an aide-m&moire, which is reproduced below. This aide-memoire is intended to be a helpful reminder of the main points to be considered, and is not an official list of instructions for completing an application form.