Role of the R&D Office
Research and development is a core function of the Trust. The R&D Office undertakes activities in support of researchers and the R&D strategy of the Trust. Our vision is to develop a sound Research and Development culture in which researchers feel supported within an organisation that has seamless links inter-professionally and academically across Departments, Ethics Committees, Universities and Industries.
The R&D office performs the following functions:
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Process applications from researchers who wish to secure Trust Management Approval
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Provides advice to researchers on matters relating to research governance approval
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Supports the process for setting up new commercial studies
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Facilitates, supports and monitors all research projects (funded or unfunded) taking place in the Trust
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Provides advice to the Trust on important research issues, funding opportunities and grant applications
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Financial management of the R&D budget
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Oversees the implementation of national policies, which are designed to improve the quality of research by protecting patients and staff, ensuring scientific quality and maximising the impact of research
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Produces the research annual report to the Department of Health and the quarterly report to the National Research Registry
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Promotion and development of research culture in the Trust
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Collaborates in research with Research Councils, Universities, Research Networks and commercial companies
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Identifies R&D training needs of all Trust staff and develop training programs to meet this need
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Insures that all research conducted within the Trust is accounted for and on the R&D Registry
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Works with the medical and nursing directorate to advocate the embedding of research and research findings into clinical practice
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Leads on effective communication, promotion and dissemination of research activities
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Leads in the involvement of consumers in clinical trials
Registering Resarch
What is a research project?
The definition of research in the NHS is: structured activity, which is intended to provide new knowledge which is generalisable (i.e. of value to others in a similar situation) and intended for wider dissemination.
Research can sometimes be confused with audit. The difference between audit and research could be described as follows: research is finding out what you ought to be doing; audit is whether you are doing what you ought to be doing.
If your project is an audit and not a research project then you may not require ethical approval, but you must contact the Clinical Audit Department on 020 8321 5571. However, if you are in any doubt, then contact the R&D manager on 020 8321 6886.
Do I need Trust approval before beginning my project?
Yes, if it is a research project and involves:
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West Middlesex patients or their samples or records
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West Middlesex staff, equipment or if any part of it is conducted on WMUH premises
What documents do I need to submit?
You need to provide us with a copy of all the documents you submitted to ethics. They include the following:
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Ethics Application Form: available from IRAS website, www.myresearchproject.org.uk/
Site Specific Information Form (SSI form): it will be used both for applying to local REC for site-specific assessment (SSA) where required, and for R&D approval. This form available from COREC website
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Study Protocol: a copy of the protocol, patient information sheet, consent form and GP letters
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Independent Peer Review: studies originating in the Trust will need to have an independent scientific review
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CV of the Principal Investigator
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Evidence of Funding or Sponsorship: you must provide a letter of you funding award or a letter from your nominated sponsor confirming their acceptance of this role
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Copies of MREC and LREC approval: this may not be available when you first contact us. Please note that both R&D and Ethics submission can be done in parallel
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MHRA approvals: if the study involves an Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP)
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Indemnity Letter: for commercial studies the company must provide indemnity to cover the researcher in the event of non-negligent harm
Please forward all relevant documentation to:
Dr Essam Ramhamadany
Clinical Governance
East Wing
West Middlesex University Hospital
Isleworth, Middlesex
TW7 6AF
Contact details
R&D contacts:
Dr Essam Ramhamadany
R&D Manager
Tel: 020 8321 6886
Email: essam.ramhamadany@wmuh.nhs.uk
Dr Andrew Winning
Medical Director, lead for R&D
Tel: 020 8321 5337
Email: Andrew.winning@wmuh.nhs.uk
LREC Contacts:
Dr Jan Downer
Chair of Hounslow & Hillingdon LREC
Tel: 020 7725 2876
Alison Okan
Outer London REC
Room 019
Level 7, Maternity
Northwick Park Hospital
Watford Road
Harrow
HA1 3UJ
Tel:. 0208 869 3928
Email: alison.okane@nwlh.nhs.uk
Useful links
Central Office for Research Ethics Committees (COREC)
www.corec.org.uk
R&D Forum
www.rdforum.nhs.uk
Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
www.mhra.gov.uk
Department of Health
www.doh.gov.uk
Health and Safety Executive
www.hse.gov.uk
Medicines Control Agency
www,mca.gov.uk
Medical Devices Agency
www.medical-devices.gov.uk
Controlled Trials
www.contolled-trials.com
Department of Health R&D
www.doh.gov.uk/research
RD Direct
www.rddirect.org.uk
Research & Development Learning in the UK
www.rdlearning.org.uk
National Network of Research and Development Support Units
www.national-rdsu.org.uk
Cancer Research Networks:
The NIHR Comprehensive Research Network (CRN)
www.ukcrn.org.uk
Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN)
www.dendron.org.uk
UK Mental Health Research Network (UK MHRN)
www.ukmhrn.info
Stroke Research Network (SRN)
www.uksrn.ac.uk/
National Cancer Research Network (NCRN)
www.ncrn.org.uk
Diabetes Research Network (DRN)
www.ukdrn.org
Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN)
www.mcrn.org.uk
Primary Care Research Network (PCRN)
The UKCRN Coordinating Centre is overseeing the development of PCRN.
www.ukcrn.org.uk/index/networks/primarycare.html
