This is the homepage for internal investigators. From here you can get started with your new project ideas, read up on legislation surrounding research and your responsibilities and get access to, for example, statistics workshops, protocol templates, and project design.

Everyone should consult a statistician at the research planning stage. Due to limited NHS research resources there is a real push towards making research as statistically sound and as beneficial to patients as possible

The approval processes surrounding clinical research is always changing and developing. The conclusion is to keep up-to-date by visiting the staff in the R&D Department who know the latest requirements and save yourself time and effort!

New internal project ideas

Save yourself time by coming to R&D

Approval processes surrounding clinical research are always changing and developing. One reason for this is the drive to harmonise clinical research standards internationally, other changes occur as lessons are learnt about how best to protect patients and improve standards, and yet more occur as national systems are re-organised in an attempt to improve efficiency and results. The conclusion; keep up to date by visiting the people in the R&D Department, who know the latest requirements and save yourself time and effort!

Brief reasons behind approvals and regulations

Ultimately patients are protected, but researchers and sponsors are also protected if laws are followed and indemnities are in place and something happens to go wrong or a complaint is made.

Waiting for the green light can be frustrating in some studies, but although you might understand how low risk or ethical your project may be, transparency is needed allowing the same conclusion to be reached.

Some projects are started and not finished, wasting time and resources. So, please think if you really have the time and resources to do the project you want to do.

Have you got staff in place who have the time to do the project?
Have you got the resources and materials needed?

A good idea isn't enough, it takes a lot of energy and determination to make things happen. Junior doctors who join us on rotation should be encouraged to join existing projects, not start their own, as enough time isn't available during their rotation to take a project through the process to a successful completion.

Ethics are not absolute- opinions vary and there are laws governing transparency and ethical approval for clinical research.