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HRA Latest - March 2021

Welcome to HRA Latest,

I’m pleased to be able to share this month’s updates for all those working or involved in health and social care research.

Read more about how we’re helping to deliver the new UK-wide vision for the future of clinical research through the Recovery, Resilience and Growth programme, shaping the future of clinical research delivery. This includes our announcement that the popular fast-track research ethics review for non-COVID-19 research will continue. You’ve given us great feedback on this so far, and I’m sure this will be widely welcomed.

You can read more on this, and all of our stories, below.

Don’t forget, for regular updates and the latest news, you can follow us on Twitter @HRA_Latest.

Matt Westmore, Chief Executive

Research saves lives – the future of clinical research in the UK

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the strength and importance of the UK’s research base, with real achievements in the development of new vaccines, diagnostic tests and in the evaluation of potential treatments.

As work continues to recover the UK’s diverse portfolio of clinical research, we're proud to be supporting and shaping the new UK-wide vision for the future of clinical research through the Recovery, Resilience and Growth programme.

Fast-track review of clinical trials for non-COVID-19 research to continue

Our new service offering a 50% faster research ethics review for non-COVID-19 clinical trials in the UK will continue following positive feedback.

The extension of the service provides an opportunity to fully evaluate the pilot and explore how a fast-track ethics review can be incorporated into wider rapid approval and study set-up processes.

HRA Now - amendment process updates

We've just shared news on updates to the UK amendment process in our HRA Now bulletin. 

HRA Now provides researchers and R&D professionals with news on important operational updates from the HRA - including changes to guidance or processes. 

You can view the latest update from today and sign up to receive future updates. 

Latest blogs

'Supposing is good, but finding out is better' - putting public involvement at the heart of clinical trials

Leni Sivey, Public Involvement Manager, blogs about a pilot project launched by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) that puts patient involvement at the heart of clinical trials and medicine development.

We know that for public involvement to be meaningful it needs to be part of the research development process right from the start, and welcome the MHRA taking this initiative to find out more about public involvement from the earliest stages of medicines development onwards.

One year on since the first COVID-19 research studies were approved

Naho Yamazaki, Head of Policy and Engagement, reflects on the UK’s remarkable research effort against COVID-19 and talks about what needs to happen next so that everyone can see the findings from all UK health and social care research that involves people.

News from across UK research

World's biggest randomised clinical trial of COVID-19 treatments is one year old

The University of Oxford has shared a one-minute video to celebrate that the RECOVERY trial, the world's largest randomised clinical trial of COVID-19 treatments, is one year old. 

Thanks to the work of RECOVERY, patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19 now have two treatments that are known to improve survival.

This time last year HRA staff and Research Ethics Committees were working hard to prioritise and review COVID-19 studies - it's great to see the positive impact of our work from this time.