New support for biomedical researchers

Dr Vicki Latter, Operations Director of the UCL Biomedicine R&D Unit, said: "Our unit's new website plays a key role in our aim to support biomedical staff, from the development of a research idea through clinical conduct to publication, and to help researchers and UCL as an institution to meet the changing governance and legislative requirements."

Professor Mike Spyer, UCL Vice-Provost (Biomedicine) and Dean of the Medical School, said: "In the light of the Department of Health's Research Governance Framework Second Edition and legislation from the EU Directives on Clinical Trials and Good Clinical Practice, it is imperative that established and new staff are familiar with the evolving governance arrangements under which we all need to work in this area. "This website provides, among many other items, detailed guidance on sponsorship, ethics, patient consent, regulatory authorisations, insurance, pharmacovigilance and student projects, as well as access to downloadable registration forms. Support is provided from the inception of a research idea through authorisations, study conduct to trial closure and publication. I congratulate Dr Latter and her team on the production of this comprehensive resource and the services they provide."

The unit's website has been designed to provide answers to researchers' questions and tools to help them adhere to the new regulatory requirements. It provides information at different levels of detail so that readers may select according to their need. UCL researchers will find a number of standard operating procedures, guides and templates, as well as a glossary of acronyms, reference documents and useful links.

UCL graduate students planning a biomedical research project will also be given assistance to ensure compliance with the various governance and legal hurdles involved.

To find out more about services provided by the unit, use the link at the top of this article.

Image: Professor Spyer

• Link:
• UCL Biomedicine R&D Unit