A banner for Norfolk & Waveney ICB's Research and Innovation team, with NWICB and NWICS logos

Study set-up

If your study is taking place in Primary Care in Norfolk, Suffolk or North-East Essex, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C) or East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) you can contact us on NWICB.RandDoffice@nhs.net and we can provide advice and guidance on the steps you need to take to set up and deliver your study and support you through the process.

What do we do?


For further information, please contact NWICB.RandDoffice@nhs.net.

Is my study research?

The UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care sets out principles of good practice in the management and conduct of health and social care research in the UK.  This applies to all health and social care research involving patients, services users, their relatives and carers or their data.  All activities meeting the definition of research under this framework is expected to be managed in accordance with this framework.

To help you decide whether or not your study is research, the Health Research Authority (HRA) have produced a decision tool - Is my study research?

If you are still unsure as to whether your study is research then please contact the team for more guidance at NWICB.RandDoffice@nhs.net

Please also see our Evidence and Evaluation Hub for information on undertaking service evaluations

What approvals do I need?

To undertake research in the NHS in England or Wales, which means either recruiting patients or staff through their role in the NHS, or using patient or staff data, or taking place on NHS premises, you need to obtain Health Research Authority (HRA) and/or Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW) Approval. Separate approvals are necessary in Scotland and Northern Ireland, you can find further information here: NHS/HSC R&D Permissions

HRA/HCRW Approval brings together the assessment of governance and legal compliance, undertaken by dedicated HRA staff, and independent ethical opinion (where required) by a Research Ethics Committee (REC). 

Do I need NHS REC approval? – Not all research conducted within the UK requires approval from an NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC). This decision tool will help you to determine if your study requires this type of approval. If you remain unsure and you are running your project within primary or community care in Norfolk and Suffolk, please submit a draft proposal to the research office. We will review your proposal and can provide you with advice.

If REC approval is required this toolkit can help you to determine whether you can apply for proportional review by REC.

If you are not sure what approvals you need then please contact us for more guidance

Applying for HRA/HCRW approval

Local confirmation of Capacity and Capability (C&C)

Study amendments

Commercial research in primary care

We can support practices taking part in commercial research with:



Our team are available for a discussion around commercial research, its challenges, and the potential ways to overcome those challenges. Please contact us on nwicb.randdoffice@nhs.net. 

A number of our practices have signed up to the National Contract Value Review (NCVR) process, which is currently voluntary for practices.  Practice can sign up here.

Research in the wider community non-NHS settings

Student research

Letters of Access and Honorary Contracts for research

Research within the NHS is often undertaken by NHS staff not directly employed by the host NHS organisation, or by non-NHS staff, particularly researchers employed by or studying at universities. This raises issues about responsibility, accountability, patient safety and duty of care. The Research in the NHS: HR Good Practice Resource Pack describes the process for handling HR arrangements for researchers and provides a streamlined approach for confirming details of the pre-engagement checks they have undergone with the NHS.

Do I need a research passport?

A research passport is the mechanism for non-NHS staff to obtain an Honorary Research Contract (HRC) or Letter of Access (LOA) when they propose to carry out research in the NHS.

The research passport algorithm will help you assess whether you need an LOA or HRC. If your study involves contact with patients in a care setting or using identifiable data then it is likely you will need an LOA. If your study involves providing health care, or is likely to have a direct bearing on the quality of care, an HRC may be required.

Applying for an LOA or HRC

We facilitate appropriate access for research at GP practices across CRN East of England, the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C) and East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH).

Please contact us at NWICB.RandDoffice@nhs.net with the following documents: