New system launched to ease paperwork burden for UK health researchers

29 January 2008

A streamlined system being launched today is expected to bring some welcome relief to a large number of UK health researchers.

IRAS (Integrated Research Application System) is an online system which is designed to make the process of applying for approval to conduct research in the health sector easier and less bureaucratic.

Until now, researchers applying for approval to conduct a piece of research in the UK health service have had to grapple with a confusing array of forms, many of which required the same details. Duplicating the information on each review body’s application form has been a time-consuming and frustrating process.

IRAS combines seven review bodies’ applications, so researchers only need to enter their study information once. Once entered into IRAS, the information will populate the applications relevant to the type of research being undertaken.

The system will continue to be improved as feedback is received. The traditional systems will still be available for those researchers who want to use them but they will be phased out later in the year.

Dr Liam O’Toole, Chief Executive of the UKCRC, said: “IRAS is an excellent example of how the UKCRC and partnership working can make a tangible impact by bringing together a range of organisations in order to solve a common problem. It is a simple idea that a researcher should only have to provide the details of their study once. In reality the task was very complex and has required a lot of people working together to come up with this elegant solution.”

Led by the National Research Ethics Service (NRES), a division of the National Patient Safety Agency, this UK-wide project has been run under the umbrella of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC). The initiative is also supported by the NHS R&D Forum, the major regulatory and governance bodies, the UK Health Departments, the UK Clinical Research Network, the Forum of NHS Wales for R&D Management in Health & Social Care and funders of research. This collaboration is a crucial part of the Government’s strategy to have an integrated programme of improvement in health research.

Link to full press release

Link to UKCRC IRAS web pages

Link to IRAS