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Welcome to HRA Latest, with news and updates for everyone working or involved in health and social care research.
This month, we're very pleased to share our new guidance to help researchers and sponsors prepare for the changes to the clinical trials regulations. The guidance covers key updates to the regulations, which we've developed with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
We've also been getting ready to launch our new strategy and we're inviting everyone to join us at a special online event on Wednesday 9 July. Our new strategy will set out our focus for the next three years to achieve our mission.
Over the past few weeks we have welcomed recent announcements from the government about its 10 Year Health Plan and the Spending Review, which includes unprecedented support for clinical trials and investment for the NHS.
As always thank you for reading HRA Latest.
Matt Westmore
Chief Executive
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 New clinical trials guidance published
We’ve published new guidance to accompany the updated clinical trials regulations which come into force on 28 April 2026.
The guidance explains what will change in terms of processes, legal requirements, and expectations for anyone involved in setting up or delivering clinical trials.
If you have any comments or would like to share feedback on the new published guidance, please complete our online survey by 5pm on Wednesday 10 September 2025.
We’ll use the feedback we receive to update the final guidance which we plan to publish later this year.
Find out more about the guidance in our latest Clinical Trials update.
 Join our strategy launch event
We’re launching our new strategy at an online event on Wednesday 9 July and we’re inviting you to join us.
Our new strategy, which was developed with our staff, community and partners from across the health and social care research sector, sets out our focus for the next three years to make it easier to do research that people can trust.
The launch event will take place on Zoom from 11am to 12.30pm and will be hosted by our Interim Chair, Neelam Patel.
 Blog: Information governance in research - an update on our work to improve assurances
As part of our work to support the UK Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) programme we are making improvements to reduce the unnecessary duplication of our study-wide reviews for information governance.
In a blog written by Matthew Sanderson, Research Regulation Specialist, we give an update on our progress so far.
This includes improving the information governance criteria, training for staff who review study applications and showing what good practice looks like.
 Our response to recent government announcements
Earlier this month we welcomed the government's announcement of an unprecedented boost for clinical trials as part of the the 10 Year Health Plan and the recent publication of the Spending Review.
The announcement made in connection to the 10 Year Health Plan, included plans to speed up the time it takes to set up research in the UK, by simplifying the process and removing unnecessary duplication.
The government's Spending Review, which sets out day-to day government spending over the next three years, included investment in the NHS and a focus on research and innovation.
These announcements support the work we do to make it easier to do research that people can trust. Our new strategy will set out our focus for the next three years to achieve our objectives and help realise the government's growth and health missions.
 Our response to ABPI and AMRC's report on improving inclusivity in clinical research
Earlier this month, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) published a joint report calling for improvements to be made to encourage greater inclusivity in clinical research.
We welcome the recommendations and look forward to building on our work with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to encourage and support researchers to make sure that the people their research is for and about can take part.
 Research Ethics Committee Development Days
This month, we began our series of Research Ethics Committee (REC) Development Days.
The events are held across the country to provide our REC members with learning opportunities and updates on guidance and topical research issues. During the events, we've also been celebrating our REC members who have completed 20 and 30 years of REC service.
We're holding 5 REC development days between June and November and the next event is in Birmingham on 25 September.
 Thanking our volunteers
At the start of June we marked Volunteers’ Week, which was an opportunity to celebrate our Research Ethics Committee, Confidentiality Advisory Group and Generic Review Committee members.
In total, we have more than 900 volunteers who give their time generously to support our work and last year. They collectively spent more than 95,000 hours of their time volunteering, reviewing thousands of applications and amendments.
Together, they play a vital role in making sure research is ethical, safe and in the best interests of research participants, patients and the public.
Many people shared a message of thanks during the week, including Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health.
 NHS England writes to Trusts about research funding
We welcome NHS England reinforcing the importance of research by writing to Trusts in England about use of research funding.
In the letter NHS England also highlights how they are supporting the research community by working with the UKCRD programme to deliver a ‘do once per study’ approach via the new study set-up plan.
 Get involved in our pilots
We're inviting sponsors and researchers to take part in our pilots:
Inclusion and diversity guidance
We've published a second draft of our guidance for how to develop an Inclusion and Diversity Plan. The pilot involves developing a Plan and submitting it as part of an application for review by a Research Ethics Committee.
If you'd like to take part, please email Engagement.Team@hra.nhs.uk
New pharmacy set up guidance
Together with the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMC) network, we have launched a pilot to test improving the existing Pharmacy Technical Assurance process with newly developed pharmacy set-up guidance. We are looking for sponsors to take part in the pilot.
If you would like to take part or receive a copy of the draft guidance please email pilot.testing@hra.nhs.uk.
 Share your feedback on HRA Latest
To help us make sure we’re sharing the right information in our HRA Latest emails, please complete our short two question survey.
If there’s anything you would like to hear about in future updates, please let us know by emailing communications@hra.nhs.uk
News from across UK research
Below are some updates you may have missed about health and social care research in the UK:
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