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29 August 2025
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Welcome to HRA Latest with news and updates for those working or involved in health and social care research.
This month, we're pleased to share the results of our survey on study set-up, which has shown the importance of our work with partners to improve the process across the UK. We've also published a report on the legal, policy and ethical issues in using patient information to find and contact people about taking part in health and care research.
There are also some opportunities to get involved with our work. Find out how to be part of an advisory group to inform simplified arrangements for consent in trials, as we prepare for the updated clinical trials regulations in April 2026. And, we're looking for new REC members, so if you're interested in the ethical review of research and want to gain some new skills, take a look at our latest blogs below to find out more and how to apply.
Finally, we're pleased to share that we're holding a webinar on research transparency in October. The event will cover evidence-based principles on this important element of ethical research practice. Save the date and look out for more on this next week.
As always, for regular updates and the latest news, you can follow us on LinkedIn.
Matt Westmore, Chief Executive
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   An update on our work to make the UK a world leader in clinical trials
Earlier this year we asked people working across health and social care research about their experience of study set-up at sites in the UK.
We heard from more than 500 people in a survey, and the .
The results will help us to create a baseline to measure the impact of the improvements we are making as part of the , to speed up the study set-up process.
As part of the same programme we’ve also on the legal, policy and ethical issues in using patient information to find and contact people about taking part in health and care research.
The report makes a series of recommendations for change which we will be publishing guidance on in the coming months.
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 Celebrating a decade of REC membership
At our Research Ethics Committee (REC) development days this summer, we celebrated our incredible members who have reached milestone years of service. REC members Tobias Davis and Sue Fitzpatrick marked a decade of membership, and have written a blog about the skills and experience they've gained.
Thinking of joining a REC? Whether you’ve got experience of working in healthcare or research, or none at all, we’re currently looking for people like you to join Tobias and Sue and help review vital health and social care research.
You’ll be provided with regular training and support and it’s a great opportunity to work with people from a range of backgrounds and learn new skills!
Step forward and apply today.
 Save the date for our webinar on research transparency and sharing results with participants
We're holding a webinar for researchers and sponsors on Thursday 2 October.
We'll be joined by guest speakers from the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at University College London to discuss the principles of sharing results with participants, and examples of how to do it well. The event will also cover what you need to know about transparency and the new clinical trials regulations which come into effect in April 2026.
Look out for an email invite from us next week.
Last chance to feedback on our new clinical trials guidance
Thank you to everyone who has shared feedback so far on our new guidance to accompany the updated clinical trials regulations.
If you have any comments or would like to share feedback, please complete our online survey by 5pm on Wednesday 10 September 2025.
If you would prefer to provide your feedback on how our guidance is written by email, or you have any questions, please email the HRA's engagement team.
 Our response to the government's progress update on transforming the UK clinical research system
We welcomed a report from the government on the progress it has made to go beyond implementing the Lord O'Shaughnessy review of commercial clinical trials and how it is going further and faster to transform the UK clinical research system.
This includes a commitment to achieving the most ambitious reduction in clinical trial set-up time in UK history.
We're supporting the government's plans through our work with the the cross-sector UK Clinical Research Delivery programme.
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 Help us improve how we support access needs for public involvement
We're looking for people with access and support needs to help us improve the way in which we share information about people’s access needs appropriately and with their consent. It will involve sharing your thoughts at a workshop on Wednesday 8 October.
If you're interested, or know someone else who might be, find out how to get involved.
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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