HRA Latest January 2023 - my journey into research ethics; save the date for research transparency workshops and more

Health Research Authority sent this bulletin at 27-01-2023 11:24 AM GMT

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Professor Matt Westmore, next Chief Executive of the HRA

Welcome to the first HRA Latest of 2023 with news and updates for those working or involved in health and social care research.

We’ve started this year by looking at how we can put people at the centre of everything we do, in research and in our own processes at the HRA. I’m pleased to announce that we’re setting up a Community Committee, to advise our HRA Board and bring more people into our decision making. The committee will hold us to account on the promises made in our strategy to make it easy to do research that people can trust.

Continuing the people focus we are still asking for your thoughts on the six hallmarks of good, ‘people centred’ research. That’s research which allows more diverse groups of people to take part in ways that are best for them.

As part of Think Ethics, our work to make ethics review even more efficient and trusted, we're speaking to Research Ethics Committee members about how and why they got involved. Find out more from one of our Chairs, Stephanie Ellis.

As always, for regular updates and the latest news, you can follow us on Twitter @HRA_Latest. 

Matt Westmore, Chief Executive 

HRA Latest - January 2023

Graphic showing the six hallmarks of people-centred clincial research

Putting people first in clinical research – Terry Wogan and moving on from the rhetoric.

What does it really mean to ‘put people first in research?’ Are these just nice, well-meaning words with little content, impact, or even worse sincerity?

Our Senior Improvement Delivery Manager, Kate Greenwood, writes on why we must improve the way clinical research happens in ways that are best for the people taking part and why this is so important for the recovery, resilience and growth of research in the UK.

Read Kate's blog

Photo of a diverse group of people standing in a line

Asking new questions of new people

Our Board and community members have agreed a new way to ensure more people can feed into our decision making, with the creation of the HRA Community Committee. This is a key part of our principle to include, so that health and social care research is done with and for everyone.

Our Director of Policy and Partnerships, Becky Purvis, writes about what this means.

Read Becky's blog

My journey into research ethics

Think Ethics is our work with partners and the wider research community to make research ethics review even more innovative, efficient, and trusted.

As part of this we’re sharing stories from people involved in ethics review.

The first is from REC Chair Stephanie Ellis who blogs about protests, paperwork and royal recognition for her 30 years of service.

Read Stephanie's story

Save the date - Make It Public workshops

As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and openness in health and social care research, we’re holding a series of free online workshops in March 2023. Each workshop will focus on a key issue in research transparency, sharing best practice and learning together.

Tuesday 21 March 2023 | 2pm to 4pm | Feeding outcomes back to participants

Wednesday 22 March | 2pm to 4pm | Publishing summary results of trials in an open and accessible way

Thursday 23 March | 2pm to 4pm | Raising awareness of opportunities to get involved in research

The workshops are aimed at anyone involved in or working in health and social care research. For more details and how to register keep an eye on our social media or look out for next months’ HRA Latest.

Making it easier to do clinical trials that everyone can trust

Last year, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with support from us and the Northern Ireland Department of Health consulted on a set of proposals for changes to the laws around clinical trials. There were over 2000 responses. The Government response to the consultation is currently with ministers.

We want to be sure that we’re ready to support the research community with any changes, so we’ve set up a new project team. Its members are working closely with the MHRA to prepare to amend the current UK Clinical Trials (CT) Regulations.

This work will support clinical trials in the best interests of patients and is in line with the ambitions of the Life Sciences Vision to make the UK the leading global centre for innovative research design and delivery, across all types and phases of trials.

Two people looking at a laptop and making notes

Streamlining applications to access data

As part of work to streamline our processes we’re trialling a new application process for studies that need both Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) advice and a Research Ethics Committee (REC) opinion.

Our new joined up approvals are proving to be quicker and simpler overall than when the applications are submitted separately. But we need more people to test the process and feedback to us on their experience.

Are you preparing to submit applications to CAG and REC? Find out how you can get involved.

Find out more

A medic wearing blue PPE, white face mask and a clear visor takes a nose swab from a patient.

Share your feedback and help us improve clinical research

Every day clinical research is being carried out on a specific illness, condition, treatment or therapy, the results of which could help save lives and improve the quality of care for thousands of people every year.

We’re working with our partners to improve the way clinical research happens, so that more people can take part, in ways that are best for them. We think of this as clinical research being more ‘people-centred’.

To help us understand what changes could be made, we are asking you to share your thoughts and experiences in our survey.

Read more

HRA Now - operational updates

HRA Now sends you everything you need to know where there are changes to the way we work

Here are some recent updates you may have missed from HRA Now.

New IRAS user guide for CTIMPs - we’ve developed a new IRAS user guide to help you find the information you need more easily when you’re using the system. It presents the same information as the current step by step guide on the HRA website, but it’s in a different format and structure.

Updated UK model non-commercial agreement - an updated model non-commercial agreement (mNCA) is now available for you to use. A full description of the changes is available in the mNCA guidance in IRAS Help.

New commercial hub and spoke agreement - following on from the publication of the May 2022 model clinical trial agreement (mCTA), and contract research organisation model clinical trial agreement (CRO-mCTA) a new commercial hub and spoke agreement has been published to support hub and spoke delivery models for commercial clinical trials.