Research Governance is concerned with principles, regulations and standards of good practice that ensure research is of high quality and conducted in an ethical manner. The UK Framework for Health and Social Care Research sets out the principles for the governance of research in health and social care. It is made up of regulations, principles and standards of good practice designed to achieve and continuingly improve research quality within health and social care.

Who does it apply to?

Research governance applies to everyone connected to health and social care research, whether as a chief investigator, care professional, researcher, their employer(s) or support staff.

Health and Social Care research is any health or social care-related research that involves humans, their tissue and/or data. It is often conducted in public services such as the NHS or social care settings, but that is not always the case.

Why do we need it?

Research governance is needed to:

• safeguard participants in research
• protect researchers/investigators (by providing a clear framework within which to work)
• enhance ethical and scientific quality
• mitigate risk
• monitor practice and performance
• promote good practice and ensure that lessons are learned.

Clinical Research Governance Team

Lancaster University has a small team of Clinical Research Governance Officers, who are responsible for facilitating the universities clinical and health and social care research governance practices, developing policies, SOPs and guidance to ensure researchers have enough information to conduct high quality, compliant and safe research, as well as delivering effective quality management of health and social care research taking place at the university. The university also has a Health and Social Care Research Sponsorship Committee, who are in place to offer strategic advice and guidance to the university relating to health and social care research and oversee the university sponsorship process.