In February, UK Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) published a policy update regarding changes to the Research Delivery Network (RDN) Portfolio eligibility criteria.
To access RDN support in England, and be included on the RDN Portfolio, research studies must meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The DHSC has recently updated these criteria to stipulate that studies must comply with national policy and central guidance, ensuring unnecessary duplication of processes is avoided to reduce time taken to set up studies and release capacity to support other research-related activity.
National policies and guidance will be listed on the UKCRD website and may be updated from time to time.
National policy and central guidance within scope currently includes:
- Full utilisation of Health Research Authority (HRA) national pharmacy, radiation, and information governance (IG) reviews, as well as central model agreements and guidance.
- Adherence to the National Contract Value Review (NCVR) principles and process for all commercial contract research.
- Alignment to new guidance for interpretation of the current Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) in NHS research involving ionising radiation.