In response to the HRA’s announcement on 28 January, Professor Sir Robert Lechler PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences said:
“I am pleased to see that the HRA’s new research approval system is nearing completion. I am sure a centralised and simplified assessment system such as HRA Approval will help reduce the time required to initiate important research projects.
“I am delighted to see the HRA improving and streamlining the regulation and governance of health as we envisaged for it five years ago in our report ‘A new pathway for the regulation and governance of health research’, which recommended its establishment.
“Very soon this approval system will be the norm for researchers in the NHS in England. This simplification should contribute to keep the UK at the forefront of medical research, and will mean our patients will be able to access new drugs and treatments sooner.”
Janet Wisely, Chief Executive of the Health Research Authority, added:
“We welcome this announcement from the Academy of Medical Sciences. The confirmation of the plans for cohort 4 and cohort 5 is a significant step forward in the implementation of HRA Approval. We encourage researchers to be amongst the first to take advantage of the new streamlined assessment process by testing it with us.”