NIHR features strongly in Government action on reducing research bureaucracy

This page is an accessible version of our ‘NIHR features strongly in Government action on reducing research bureaucracy’ article.

You may have seen the Government’s response to the independent review of research bureaucracy that highlights the considerable amount of work done by the NIHR to reduce its bureaucratic processes and innovate through its transformation programmes.

The prominence of NIHR in this response helps cement our position as an innovative funder that has our stakeholders at the forefront of what we do. This wouldn’t be possible without your ongoing support and dedication to improving how we work.

Gail Marzetti, Director for Science, Research and Evidence at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), said: “Both Lucy and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who is involved in the ongoing improvements within NIHR. We know that change can be challenging but we hope that you can feel proud of the impact we are having.”

The Bureaucracy Review Reform and Implementation Network

NIHR is represented on the Bureaucracy Review Reform and Implementation Network (BRRIN) by Mark Toal and Elaine Williams. This is a government group that will ensure progress is made against their commitments to reducing research bureaucracy.

Key themes from the response documents

There are several transformational programmes of work highlighted in the response document. Here is a brief summary of the activities highlighted under the relevant recommendations area and which programme or group is responsible for them.

Assurance

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and NIHR will work to align assurance approaches with funders beyond government building on existing collaborations
NIHR and UKRI will share a set of commercialisation principles
UKRI and NIHR will undertake the first steps to test the potential of self-certification of assurance requirements by institutions

Contact Mary Buxton, Head of Assurance at NIHR Central Commissioning Facility (CCF), and Quinton Newell, Director of Strategic Operations at NIHR CCF for more information.

Applying for funding

NIHR already uses a 2-stage application process across the majority of its research programmes
NIHR’s standard application form will be further streamlined during 2024 so that applications only focus on the information that reviewers and funding committees need to make funding recommendations
NIHR is developing standard operating procedures to improve consistency and standardisation across the funding process. NIHR will work with UKRI and other funders during 2024 to standardise language and question sets where appropriate, and share learning of good practice
NIHR has adopted a shorter, simplified external peer review form across most research programmes, which asks relevant and targeted open questions
In 2024, NIHR will develop a ‘commissioning’ standard operating procedure covering best practice across peer review processes, which will be enacted through the new single awards management system
NIHR has been removing letters of support for the majority of research programmes during 2023 and this will continue into 2024

Visit the One NIHR Programme page for more information.

Grant implementation and in-grant management

NIHR negotiates proposed start dates with applicants or works closely with applicants when research has fixed deadlines and time is limited
NIHR works with others to speed up the start of research projects ahead of final contract
NIHR standardises its research contract terms, where possible and proportionate to do so
A standard template collaboration agreement has been developed to bring together multiple research bodies to address key healthcare challenges, via its Translational Research Collaborations
Health Research Authority (HRA) has started conversations with NIHR and DHSC to explore the development of template collaboration agreements for use in commercial, NHS and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) collaboration. Agreements between funding award/grant holders and their collaborators have also been explored

Please contact Ben Patient, Head of Intellectual Property and Commercial and Director of Innovation Programmes at NIHR CCF, or Andrew Pearson, Head of Technology Transfer at NIHR CCF, for more information.

Digital platforms

UKRI, NIHR and Jisc will work together to improve data flows between different platforms and improve data consistency across the sector
NIHR’s Digital Strategy covers data standards, identity management and interoperability across multiple platforms
NIHR has been using ORCiD, which stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID, as its identifier for a number of years. We require NIHR-funded researchers and applicants to obtain an ORCiD ID
The single awards management system for the NIHR will streamline processes and reduce the amount of information requested. Where possible, data will be increasingly collected only once and shared safely and securely with those who have need to use it

Contact John Nother, Chief Digital Officer, or Claire Wallace-Watson, Senior NIHR DDaT PMO Coordinator, for more information.

Communications

NIHR is improving its engagement with stakeholders. For example, through engagement with research organisations during the development of their open access policy to ensure it accommodates the needs of HEIs and NHS Trusts
The NIHR’s Digital Strategy includes a proposal to explore developing a Target Customer Experience that will incorporate a personalised notification service as part of a researcher’s NIHR account
NIHR is establishing an external affairs unit to coordinate how it engages and communicates with its partner organisations. This time will ensure that relevant organisations are kept informed of important messages and regulatory changes via targeted communications

Email external.affairs@nihr.ac.uk for more information.