Welcome to HRA Latest with news and updates for those working or involved in health and social care research.
This month, we're pleased to share that our fast-track review scheme helped a clinical trial for a new vaccine targeting Ebolavirus to be set-up sooner so that its findings can improve care faster. A Research Ethics Committee (REC) reviewed the application in just 5 days.
We've published some information about informed consent for children in research following a recent legal ruling, and we're sharing a new blog about how vital feedback is for the HRA and how it helps to improve our services.
As part of our wider work to help improve study set-up, we launched new guidance this week on setting up and managing studies involving NHS and health and social care staff.
We're also delighted to share an interview with Gareth Tudor-Williams, Chair of the London-Central REC, who has been a REC member for the past 28 years. Gareth gives an insight into his experience as a volunteer and the impact of the role.
For regular updates and the latest news, you can also follow us on LinkedIn.
Matt Westmore, Chief Executive
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Update on the PATHWAYS TRIAL
PATHWAYS is a programme of research aiming to find out how the NHS can best support children and young people with gender incongruence. An application for the trial was initially approved on 6 November 2025.
Following a scientific dialogue between King’s College London and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) a substantial modification was submitted in May 2026. This modification was given a favourable opinion with additional conditions by a REC on Thursday 18 June 2026.
We've received a number of questions and requests under the Freedom of Information Act about the trial and the modification. These requests focus on our role as one of the organisations that reviews health and social care research before it can start.
Because of this exceptional level of interest, we have published documents relating to the modification on our website, in the format in which they would usually be shared with someone making a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
World-first Ebola vaccine trial underway
The first volunteer in a pioneering clinical trial testing a vaccine for a new variant of Ebolavirus has been vaccinated, after the trial received approval through our fast-track review scheme earlier this month.
Researchers at the University of Oxford submitted their application for approval on 24 June 2026 and it was reviewed just 5 days later by our London Brent REC, with a final opinion provided on 13 July.
The HRA's fast-track scheme is offered for any clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product (CTIMP), including first in human trials (Phase 1), requiring a rapid research ethics review.
Our fast-track scheme has been used to review a number of studies related to public health emergency research including COVID-19, mpox and bird flu studies.
By reviewing studies like this at pace we can enable research to start sooner, meaning the findings can improve care faster.
HRA guidance on research involving children
A recent ruling over the scope of the legal concept of Gillick competence has shone a spotlight on how informed consent is approached when children are taking part in health and social care research.
We have published some information about what has happened and why you should continue to follow the HRA’s guidance on research involving children.
Improving study set-up
We’ve published new guidance to support sponsors, NHS and Health and Social Care (HSC) organisations to set-up and manage research studies involving NHS and HSC staff as participants.
The guidance, which applies UK wide, includes information on the approval process for staff studies and answers to questions and scenarios based on queries we have received.
It's part of our wider work to help improve study set-up by co-ordinating and standardising the processes that researchers, sponsors and research sites have to follow.
Feedback plays a vital role in helping us make changes for the better
In a new blog, Becky Purvis, Director of Policy and Partnerships, explains how we gather feedback, how we use it and how it is informing improvements across the HRA.
Becky also shares some examples of changes already made in response to feedback and outlines how we're strengthening our approach in the future.
Meet our volunteers: an interview with Gareth Tudor-Williams
Our volunteers generously give their time and expertise to support health and social care research across the UK.
By reviewing research studies, they help ensure research is ethical, safe and centred on participants, supporting work on some of the biggest challenges in health and social care.
We spoke to Gareth Tudor-Williams, Chair of the London-Central REC, about his experience as a volunteer and the impact of the role.
Improving research through patient engagement
Clive Collett, HRA's Head of Policy and Engagement, recently joined an expert panel for an NIHR Industry Hub webinar on how organisations can turn new patient engagement requirements into better research outcomes.
The webinar, 'Beyond compliance: turn patient engagement regulation into research results', explored the implications of the UK clinical trials regulations introduced in April 2026 and how sponsors can use patient engagement to strengthen clinical research, improve participant experience and meet regulatory requirements.
News from across UK research
Below are some updates you may have missed about health and social care research in the UK:
- the NHS has joined forces with the charity Prostate Cancer Research to provide unique access to healthcare data for research that could transform patient care and treatment of the disease
- the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) have announced a joint funding opportunity for international collaborative clinical trials
- the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) has published its latest annual infographic, showing that its member charities invested a record £2.1 billion in UK medical research in 2025
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