Research and knowledge exchange

Research Sponsorship

All research falling under the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research1 requires a research sponsor.
The role of the sponsor is to ensure that:
  • Arrangements are in place for the research team to access resources and support to deliver the research as proposed.
  • Agreements are in place which specify responsibilities for the management and monitoring of research.
  • Arrangements are in place to review significant developments as the research proceeds, particularly those that put the safety of individuals at risk, and to approve modifications to the study design.
  • Where expected or required, the research has approval from a research ethics committee and any other relevant approval bodies before it begins.
  • Verifying that regulatory and practical arrangements are in place, before permitting the research to begin in a safe and timely manner.
The University of Sussex can act as a sponsor for its researchers.
Does my study require sponsorship?
The table below indicates the types of study that require sponsorship (and other regulatory approvals that will be necessary).

Type of study

Approvals needed2

Studies involving NHS patients, their identifiable data, or their tissue

NHS REC approval

HRA approval

 

If the research involves the processing of confidential information outside of the care team without consent you may need to make an application to the Confidentiality Advisory Committee (CAG)

Studies involving adults (over 16 years old) lacking the capacity to consent for themselves.

NHS REC approval

HRA approval (if recruited via the NHS)

Studies involving NHS staff  or NHS facilities/premises

HRA approval

A Clinical Trial of an Investigational Medicinal Product

NHS REC approval

HRA approval

MHRA authorisation

A Clinical Investigation or other study of a Medical Device that is non-CE marked, or is CE marked and is being used outside of its current intended purpose or has been modified

NHS REC approval

HRA approval

MHRA authorisation

A Phase 1 Clinical Trial of an Investigational Medicinal Product using healthy volunteers and taking place outside of the NHS

NHS REC approval

MHRA authorisation

 

Social Care research that is:

  • Funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (England)

  • Involves people lacking capacity (in England and Wales)

  • Involves integrated health and social care services

  • Involves intergenerational social care research where both adults and children, or families, are research participants.

Social Care NHS REC

Staff and/or offenders in prison establishments

HMPPS National Research Committee (NRC) approval

If health-related, NHS REC approval will also be required

 

Research undertaken, funded or sponsored by the Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence REC (MoDREC)
 
If your research study does require sponsorship, you must obtain approval from the Health and Social Care Sponsorship Sub-Committee (HSC SSC).
Applications intended for review by the HRA, NHS REC and/or MHRA  should first be made to the Pre-Sponsorship Review Panel (PRSP) which meets monthly according to a schedule with specific submission dates. Queries about the operation of the PSRP should be directed to psrp@sussex.ac.uk.
Following review by the PSRP, applications are passed to the HSCSSC who provide oversight for the totality of research sponsored by the University throughout the life cycle of studies. The HSC SSC will consider taking on sponsorship of the study according to Criteria of Sponsorship. Once sponsorship has been approved, a letter will be issued to confirm this. You must not commence research until this approval has been received.
All researchers who have been granted University of Sussex sponsorship are required to agree to follow the University's Conditions of Sponsorship Agreement.
The sponsor’s representative for health and social care research approved by the HSC SSC is:
Dr Caroline Gordon
Head of Research Ethics, Integrity, and Governance
Research & Innovation Services
+44(0)1273 878798
Sponsorship queries should be directed to researchsponsorship@sussex.ac.uk.
If your research study will undergo ethical review by a University of Sussex Faculty Research Ethics Committee (F-REC) because it does not involve the NHS and does not fall within the criteria for NHS REC review, you will not need to apply for sponsorship through the HSC SSC.
There will be rare occasions whereby both HSC SSC and F-REC review is required, such as applications intended for MoD REC or HMPPS NRC review. If you think your project may fall into this category, please contact researchsponsorship@sussex.ac.uk.
See Research Governance and Integrity : Research : Staff : University of Sussex and Social care research - Health Research Authority for further guidance and information about the requirements for ethical review.
Should you wish to receive sponsorship for a study, please ensure that you understand how both the PSRP and HSC SSC operate.
1The UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research applies to health and social care research involving patients, health care professionals, service users or their relatives or carers. This includes research involving them indirectly, for example, using information that the health or social care services have collected about them. Research sites may be situated within the NHS (e.g., hospitals, health centres, GP surgeries) and/or sites in non-NHS settings (e.g., care homes, local authorities, charities, hospices, schools, prisons, and the independent sector).
2For a small number of projects the approvals needed may not be obvious from the table. Please contact researchsponsorship@sussex.ac.uk if you are unsure whether sponsorship is needed.