Health and Social Care Research & Development (HSC R&D) Division in Northern Ireland is excited to announce a new Approvals Service.
The Approvals Service aims to streamline research approvals in-line with other UK Nations and prepare Northern Ireland Research Infrastructure to support the forthcoming UK policy aspiration for one UK Research Governance and Ethics approval.
Bernie Pearson, Head of the new Approvals Service said:
“Creation of the new Research Approvals service has been a long-term aspiration for the health research community across Northern Ireland, in centralising research governance.
I welcome the new research approvals service to HSC NI, which will bring benefits to researchers and help expedite research approvals as a once for Northern Ireland. Ultimately this will benefit NI patients, researchers and the wider public, to reap the benefits of research. Through time, it is hoped the broader economy of Northern Ireland will be a more fertile and competitive ground to attract multinational research."
As part of the centralisation of research governance, a new Approvals Team is also in place including the HSC Research Gateway team, originally hosted in the Western Health and Social Care Trust, which has moved across to HSC R&D.
The Approvals team are responsible for the HSC Research Approvals process including co-ordinating and validating research application documentation and routing throughout the HSC Trusts depending on which site the research will be taking place. Managing operations of the new team of research assessors, reviewing HSC research applications including completion of study-wide governance reports and ensuring costing information provided is satisfactory. National Contract Value Review (NCVR) a standardised National approach to costing for commercial contract research that aims to improve efficiency of research set-up activities across the UK, is also overseen by the Approvals Service.
AcoRD Specialist review for Non-Commercial research studies that require Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Tool Review and sign-off by an accredited officer will also be undertaken by the new Approvals Service.
For more information on the HSC R&D Approvals Service, please contact: Research.Approvals@hscni.net