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Welcome to HRA Latest, with news and updates for everyone working or involved in health and social care research.
Being transparent about research builds trust, and making information about research publicly available is vital to ethical research practice.
Today, as part of our Make it Public campaign, we've launched our latest report that shows the proportion of clinical trials registered on a publicly accessible database. Keep reading to find out more.
We’re also pleased to share more about a new UK-wide Health Data Research Service, a new study set-up target, and the latest on the most significant overhaul of UK clinical trial regulations in 20 years.
As always thank you for reading HRA Latest.
For the latest news from the HRA, you can follow us on LinkedIn or sign up for updates on specific topics you're interested in.
Matt Westmore
Chief Executive
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 Clinical trial registration report
Today, we have published data on the registration status of clinical trials in the UK, as part of our ongoing commitment to promote research transparency.
The report covers clinical trials that received a REC favourable opinion in 2023 and shows that 92% of clinical trials were registered on a publicly accessible database, or in the process of being registered.
The report also lists the details of trials that weren't registered.
We also looked at the most used registries and for the first time looked at the registration rates comparing different types of clinical trials.
 Share your feedback on the draft Clinical Trial regulations guidance
As part of the UK's updated Clinical Trial regulations we have developed guidance to explain what is changing.
We're now asking for feedback on our draft guidance to check if it is clear and easy to understand.
The guidance will be published on our website and explains what you need to do to prepare for when the updated regulations come into force in 2026.
If you would like to get involved, you can download a copy of the draft guidance and share you feedback in our online survey
The survey closes at 12pm on Monday 28 April 2025.
 Sign up to hear more about our digital services
We are that will make it easier for research applications to be submitted, reviewed and approved in the UK.
The new services will streamline the process for research approvals by removing duplication and inconsistencies, as well as making it easier to make changes to existing research.
We will also be improving the support on offer to users.
These new services will be introduced in stages, and we expect that users will be able to use the first service that's currently in development by the end of the year.
As we develop these new services we will move users away from the systems currently used to apply for, approve and manage research including:
- Integrated Research Approvals System (IRAS)
- HRA Assessment Review Portal (HARP)
- Over-Volunteering Prevention System (TOPS)
Once our work is completed these systems will no longer be in use.
To help keep you updated with our work to develop new services we're launching a newsletter.
If you are a user of our current systems we recommend .
You can also register your interest in helping us test our new digital services.
 Progress on developing our new strategy
Work on our new strategy continues at pace. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the work so far to develop the draft which is being refined ahead of a planned summer launch.
In our latest blog about the development of our new strategy, we review the progress we made in our 2022-25 strategy and what our next steps are.
 Our response to the creation of the new Health Data Research Service and study set-up target
Earlier this month, we welcomed the government's announcement of a new UK-wide Health Data Research Service, which will make it easier to securely access NHS data for use in vital health research.
During the announcement the government also pledged to cut the time it takes to get a clinical trial set-up to 150 days by March 2026.
Speeding up the set-up of research is one of the HRA's key priorities. As part of our work with the UK Clinical Research Delivery group we recently took part in a webinar where we talked about the work we are leading to streamline and reform study set-up.
If you missed the webinar you can watch it back here.
 Updated Research Ethics Committee (REC) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
REC SOPs have been updated. The SOPs provide operational advice and support for our Research Ethics Committees, and are a key guiding document for their work.
You can find out more about the changes in the latest SOPs in our summary update.
 New analysis of UK clinical trial applications
An analysis of clinical trial applications from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the University of Liverpool has identified the UK as a research powerhouse.
The analysis has highlighted some key strengths, with the UK acting as a hub for pioneering research, with one in eight trials testing treatments in humans for the first time.
It has also shown areas where more work is needed, particularly around the diversity of research participants and ensuring that populations who are underserved in research are included.
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