The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

The NIHR provides the infrastructure that allows high-quality clinical research to take place in the NHS, so that patients can benefit from new and better treatments. 

NIHR helps researchers to set up clinical studies quickly and effectively; support the life-sciences industry to deliver their research programmes; provide health professionals with research training; and work with patients to ensure their needs are at the very centre of all research activity.  Please visit https://www.nihr.ac.uk/ for more information.

Guidance for Primary Care researchers requiring Health Research Authority (HRA) approval

HRA Approval brings together the HRA’s assessment of governance and legal compliance with the independent ethical opinion by a Research Ethics Committee (REC). 

HRA approval is for all project based research involving the NHS and Health and Social Care (HSC) that is being led from England that requires review by an NHS research ethics committee. Further information and link to the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) https://www.hra.nhs.uk/approvals-amendments/what-approvals-do-i-need/hra-approval/