Research Training

Healthcare professionals undertake a range of roles in clinical research. From individuals leading research in their field of interest, a co-applicant or principal investigator, to an individual carrying out database searches or taking a leading role in the recruitment and delivery of studies. Good Clinical Practice (GCP) forms the standards and principles of research delivery. In order to be competent to perform their tasks, it is important that everyone involved in research completes GCP and is trained or appropriately experienced to perform the specific tasks they are being asked to undertake.

What is GCP training?

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is the international ethical, scientific and practical standard to which all clinical research is conducted. It is a requirement of the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research, the policy covering all research in the NHS in England, and in law (SI 2004/1031, Schedule 1, Part 2, 8) for those people working on clinical trials. Compliance with GCP provides public assurance that the rights, safety and wellbeing of research participants are protected and that research data are reliable.

Does everyone need to complete the same GCP training?

Whilst GCP training is important and foundational for many people involved in research, there are circumstances in which completing a full GCP course is not necessarily the most effective approach. There are also situations where GCP training alone is not enough. To help Principal Investigators and others at clinical research sites determine who needs GCP training and to what level, please refer to the Delegation and Training Decision Aid.

How often do you need to complete GCP training?

This is decided by your Trust/employer. For clinical trials, the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (2004) regulations require that all staff are trained to carry out their duties on each study they are working on. This is not time bound. If you have just had participated in training and a regulatory change is made, you will need to be informed of these changes and understand their implications for your practice.

Research Ready is a quality assurance programme for all research-active UK GP practices. It supports both research-interested practices and practices who have demonstrable experience of participating in complex research projects. Through the Research Ready ® accreditation practices are provided with information, support and guidance to assist with meeting the requirements above, and with considering and conducting research. . There is a fee involved however we do strongly advise that all practices new to research should become accredited for at least one year. It is a requirement of all new practices on the RSI Scheme.