The Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care states that all research projects must have an identified sponsor. The sponsor is the organisation which acts as guarantor for the research, ensuring it complies with standards of good practice. Critically, if an organisation is to act as a sponsor, it must have
the ability to monitor compliance with good practice
control / authority over the research team, for example withdrawal of indemnity or ability to suspend a project.
Who can act as sponsor?
Any organisation which funds, initiates, hosts research or employs staff involved in research can be a sponsor. Locally, Barts and The London NHS Trust (BLT), Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) and City University have all indicated their willingness to act as a sponsor.
Because of the nature of the responsibilities of a sponsor, even though it is technically possible for an individual to act in this capacity, they would be extremely ill advised to do so. Researchers should note that neither BLT nor QMUL will indemnify research where the Principal or Chief Investigator of a study is named in the NRES form (question A59) as the sponsor.
How do I organise a sponsor for my project?
In general, you should follow the following order – funder, employer, research host. Whichever organisation agrees, you need a letter from them confirming that they will be a sponsor. You should keep a copy of this as it is an essential document for demonstrating you have exercised due diligence.
1. Check with the funding body whether they are willing to be the sponsor.
Commercial companies should sponsor all the clinical trials taking place within BLT. However, many charities and public bodies are reluctant to act as sponsor either because of the volume of research they support or their limited infrastructure.
2. Approach the principal employing body for the research part of your contract.
For NHS staff conducting research at BLT, the Trust will be the Sponsor.
Clinical academics should approach the university they have a contract of employment with. If the university does not agree, BLT may act as sponsor provided
the researcher has or agrees to have an honorary contract with BLT
the researcher agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of BLT acting as sponsor.
3. Students should contact their university
All student research must be sponsored by the university the student is registered with. Also, if the research involves BLT staff or patients access must be agreed by the appropriate BLT department.
4. Multi-centre Research
The position on multi-centre research is less clear as few organisations are in a position to fulfil sponsor responsibilities across a number of locations. As a first step we would recommend you approach the funder, then, if they are unable to sponsor the study, the Co-ordinating Centre for the study. If these routes are unsuccessful, BLT may act as overall sponsor, but formally delegate sponsor’s responsibilities to the non-BLT sites. In order to do this we would need full details of all the sites participating in the research.
What do I do if I want BLT or QMUL to be my sponsor?
When you are preparing your ethics application please send the following documents to the Joint Research Office:
your ethics application for the study
if you have confirmation the funder or your academic employer will not act as sponsor please send the letter / email confirming this
if you do not have a substantive contract with BLT an want the Trust to sponsor, we need a copy of your honorary contract (if you do not have one you will be asked to apply for one as a condition of sponsorship)
details of the other participating centres if you are taking part in a multi-centre study.
You will be asked to complete and sign a form which accepts the terms of BLT or QMUL sponsorship. Fax this back to the Ethics Interface Facilitator (tba) on tel 020 7882 7276 or post it to the Joint Research Office. We will then issue a sponsor letter which you should keep in your project files. Again, this helps to demonstrate that you are following governance procedures. More information on registering your research with R&D and download sponsorship form>>
R&D Office submission
Sponsorship