This section aims to provide researchers with information on the procedures involved in starting a non-commercial research project within NHS Highland.
Those requiring assistance regarding study design, funding sources and where to target an application should approach the Research and Development (R&D) Office for guidance. You are encouraged to discuss any issues regarding Intellectual Property such as the possibility of the project generating new intellectual property (IP) with the R&D office - before submitting any application during the course of the project.
Anyone proposing to undertake a research project must gain approval from those whose facilities they intend to use e.g. Head of Academic Unit, Clinical Director, Business Manager.
Any trials involving pharmacy in the provision of a drug or placebo or radiation exposure require approval from pharmacy or the Radiation Protection Officer before they can commence. R&D management approval cannot be given until the relevant approval has been obtained. For further information contact the R&D Office.
For those involved in clinical trials of medicines or devices, the Clinical Trials Toolkit has been developed by the Medical Research Council/Department of Health (MRC/DOH) to provide help to researchers to meet the requirements of the Clinical Trials regulations, which requires approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the form of a Clinical Trial Authorisation (CTA).
Appropriate Ethics approval should be sought. For more information on this topic see the Ethics Approval section.
All projects which involve NHS staff, patients, patient samples, patient records or facilities should be registered with the R&D Office. Examples include research projects which are:
- Externally funded by Research Councils, Charities, UK Government, Europe or any other international body
- Part of a multi-centre trial in which Highland is a collaborator regardless of funding
- Supported by NHS Highland endowment grants, departmental funds, named endowment accounts or discretionary funds
- Identified as Grant in Aid - where a contribution is made towards research by a commercial company
- Unfunded
- Funded by a commercial company.
A complete document set (duplicate of the documents sent to the Ethics Committee) should be submitted to the R&D Office along with a copy of grant application where appropriate. . All projects require written approval from NHS Highland R&D Office prior to commencement.
Any NHS service support requirement will be costed and reviewed as necessary.
Once the project is complete, the principal investigator will be contacted regarding the success of the project in particular, resulting publications, training opportunities, degrees, health care advance. This information is essential to satisfy the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) performance indicators.
