We have developed six new eLearning modules as an aid for researchers, R&D staff, study sponsors, research ethics committee members and the wider research community.
The modules are relevant to all four nations of the UK and cover key areas of research regulation, helping to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health and care research.
The first three topics to be released are: medical devices, research involving participants lacking mental capacity, and use of the HRA Schedule of Events.
Three further modules concerning research involving human tissue, research involving exposure to ionising radiation and confidentiality and information governance considerations in research, are to be released imminently.
Dr Janet Messer, Director of the HRA Approvals Service"The eLearning modules will help the research community to better understand the standards that are expected for the conduct of research, supporting applicants to produce better applications that are less likely to raise queries – and get studies up and running quicker.
"Each module is designed with a number of pathways, allowing users to select a role which reflects their own professional interests.
"We are grateful to the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) which originally developed modules on most of these topics, which we have now updated and added to.
"The modules are available on our Learning Management System and will also be used by our own staff, which we believe will improve the effectiveness of the guidance we provide.”
Laura Bousfield, NIHR CRN Head of Feasibility and Start-Up/Research Operations, said: “These learning modules are a welcome resource for raising awareness and consistency in support of effective study set-up.”
Contact our training team via hra.training@nhs.net for more information.