Support for Researchers

Page contents

We have a whole team dedicated to supporting and facilitating NHS research in Cornwall. This page will direct you to a host of resources to help you set up and run a research project. Please contact rcht.researchideas@nhs.net for support and assistance.

Contacts for Research and Development

If you are interested in finding out about getting involved in research please contact rcht.sponsor@nhs.net

Please see the Research and Development main page for contact details.

Research Statistician Request Form

Research Charity Fund Applications

Dedicated charity funds are available to support research at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. In the past our Research Charity Funds have provided staff time, equipment, consumables, lab testing and publication costs to support our local research. To make an application please email the Research Charity Team at rcht.researchcharity@nhs.net

Deadlines

Do you have a research idea involving NHS staff, patients or services in Cornwall?

If you have a research idea that involves NHS staff or patients in Cornwall, your first step to making it a reality is to complete the QIdeas form.

The form is the gateway to the relevant experts to help you progress your idea into research.

This free service is available to ALL healthcare professional in Cornwall, including non-NHS organisations with projects eligible for NIHR funding.

It is brought to you by a team of experts from The Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust’s Clinical School in partnership with the University of Plymouth, Royal Cornwall Hospital R&D Department, South West Research Design Service (RDS) and the Cornwall Health Library Service.

Once you have completed and submitted your form, it will be directed to the appropriate teams, who will then contact you directly to discuss your idea and support your development.

First stages

• Is your study research? – Use the decision tool to help you decide whether your project is classified as research. Please use the research ideas form for advice on the next steps regardless of its classification.
• NHS R&D Forum – A network for those involved in managing and supporting R&D in health and social care.
• UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research – sets out principles of good practice in the management and conduct of health and social care research in the UK.
• How to apply for project funding (NIHR) – Find out about availability, eligibility, making an application and contracts
• Study Support Service (NIHR) – Find out about free of charge service designed to help researchers set up and deliver high quality research to time and target
• Clinical Trials Guide (nihr.ac.uk)
• NIHR Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

Study design & approval

• Clinical Trials Toolkit – Planning & Design – The site addresses the requirements of the current UK regulations
• What approvals and permissions do I need? – To understand what approvals and decisions you need from the HRA
• Integrated Research Application System – The Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) is a single system for applying for the permissions and approvals for health and social care / community care research in the UK.
• Roles and responsibilities – To inform on ensuring you have the right people in the correct roles supporting your project
• HRA preparing documentation – including templates – Advice on supporting documents to help avoid unnecessary delays
• Why involve patients and the public in research? – We strongly advise patient and public involvement in research for a unique and invaluable insight, their advice invariably makes studies more effective, more credible and often more cost efficient as well.
• Accessing confidential patient information without consent in England and Wales – Permissions required if you intend to access confidential patient information without consent
• Clinical trials of investigational medicinal products – Information on legislation which sets out how drug trials are approved, conducted, monitored and reported
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Training – Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is the international ethical, scientific and practical standard to which all clinical research is conducted. Please visit https://learn.nihr.ac.uk/ to register for an account and book on a session.

Post-approval responsibilities

• EDGE – You will be given login details to access to EDGE, a secure online Clinical Management System
• Safety reporting – Procedures for safety reporting
• Post-approval amendments – Amendments are changes made to a research project after approval from a review body has been given
• End of study declaration – Link to the form for completing once your study is complete
• Archiving your project – Guide for storage and destruction of information once your study is published

Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Investigator (CI)

The CI is the overall lead for a research project. They are responsible for the overall conduct of a research project.
UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research (Chief Investigator)

Principal Investigator (PI)

The person responsible for the conduct of the research at the research site. There will be a PI for each research site
Roles and responsibilities

Associate Principal Investigators (API)

The Associate PI Scheme is a 6 month in-work training opportunity, providing experience for healthcare professionals starting their research career. People who would not normally have the opportunity to take part in research in their role have the chance to experience what it means to work on and deliver a NIHR portfolio trial under the mentorship of a Local PI. Participating healthcare professionals receive formal recognition of engagement in NIHR Portfolio research studies through the certification of Associate PI status, endorsed by the NIHR and Royal Colleges.
Associate Principal Investigator (PI) Scheme

Sponsor

Each research study must have a sponsor. They will take overall responsibility for proportionate, effective arrangements being in place to set up, run and report a research project.
Roles and responsibilities