4: A UK wide approach

We work closely with colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to make sure that anybody taking part in health and social care research in the UK can expect the same standards, wherever they live, and to make it easier to do research all over the UK.

This is reducing the number of systems that researchers must negotiate to get research projects off the ground in different parts of the UK. We’re working together to improve the system for researchers and patients.

Scroll down to see some of the ways that we work UK-wide.

Increase in clinical trial activity

88 per cent of global pharma and biotechcompaniesthink their organisation’s UK-based clinical trial activity will increase over the next four years in the light of Government commitment to the sector and the leading role the UK played in discovering COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.

Public Policy Project, IQVIA (2021) Putting policy into practice: Making the UK a global life sciences superpower

Survey of 216 C-Suite executives in global pharma and biotech headquarters between 8 July and 20 August 2021. 38 per cent based in Europe, 33 per cent from the UK, 27 per cent located in the US and Canada and the remainder from Japan, Australia, India, Taiwan and Colombia

A shared policy framework

A UK-wide shared policy framework setting out principles of good practice in the management and conduct of health and social care research in the UK replaced the four separate Research Governance Frameworks in each UK nation in 2017.

clear and consistent for researchers and regulators
people taking part in UK research can expect the same standards, wherever they live

A single UK-wide ethical opinion

Shared Governance Arrangements for Research Ethics Committees (GAfREC) mean that Research Ethics Committees operate consistently to provide a single UK-wide ethics opinion on a research project.

One form for them all – the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) form

Approval processes are not consistent UK-wide, but since 2017, researchers can make one application via IRAS for both NHS study-wide review and ethics approval for research anywhere in the UK.

easier for researchers
reduces duplication

A shared vision for the future

In March 2021 we worked together with government, research sponsors, other regulators and the NHS to publish a collaborative vision for the future of clinical research delivery - Saving and improving lives: the future of UK clinical research delivery strategy The bold vision recognises what we have achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic, and sets out to embed that in the future of research. We’re now working together to deliver this.