UWE processes

UWE (University of the West of England, Bristol) processes for Research Governance and Sponsorship

The University of the West of England is concerned to ensure appropriate research governance for all research in the University through its own regulations, standards, and procedures and through benchmarking and dissemination of good practice. Staff involved in research at UWE are expected to familiarise themselves with and follow its policies and procedures relating to research governance and to be equipped to carry out research according to good practice relevant to their discipline.

Those researchers (both staff and students) involved in health and social care research involving NHS Trusts are expected to comply with the requirements of the Research Governance Framework of the Department of Health. The University is committed to acting as a Research Sponsor under the Research Governance Framework and has been developing its support for staff and students to ensure the requirements of the Framework are met. Each Faculty has an approved Research Ethics Sub-Committee under the aegis of the University Research Ethics Committee. Faculty Research Ethics Committee Chairs are responsible for advising staff on the University's Governance requirements.

Staff acting as Project Managers undertaking research in or with an NHS Trust are required to be responsible for:

  • Registering the project with the relevant Trust(s) and the faculty/university.
  • Providing evidence of independent scientific review of the proposal/protocol.
  • Ensuring a CRB police check is undertaken, if required.
  • Seeking NHS ethics approval via the completion and submission of an ethics form - see the section on ethics application, below.
  • Seeking UWE ethics approval.
  • Ensuring that all members of the research team are suitably qualified and that all students and new researchers have adequate supervision, support and training.
  • Ensuring that the findings from the work are open to critical review and disseminated appropriately.
  • Taking responsibility for the management of finances and other resources provided for the study.
  • Arranging Honorary Contracts with the Trust(s), if required.
  • Complying with the Data Protection Act, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of personal information, research records and the security of the systems.
  • Giving careful consideration to appropriate protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights and confidentiality.
  • Complying with the Health and Safety Policies of UWE as well as any associated NHS policies (giving priority at all times to the safety of the participants as well as the researchers).

In addition, for student projects, supervisors and students are expected to:

  • Consider the scientific quality and feasibility of the research within the context of the relevant programme of study.
  • Review and monitor student progress regularly.

Ethics applications

With regard to the completion and submission of ethics applications, staff and students are made aware that:

  • All ethics applications should be reviewed by the University Research Ethics Committee or an approved Faculty Research Ethics Subcommittee.
  • Faculties are required to keep a register of research ethics applications for all staff and student projects.
  • All research ethics forms should be adjusted to reflect UWE's insurance arrangements and, for student projects, in line with limits on supervisors' delegated authority.
  • Faculties should keep a copy of REC and NHS R&D approval letters. 

Research Sponsorship

Agreements to act as a Research Sponsor are arranged by individual faculties, with support from the Research & Development Dept. when requested by faculties, to ensure that the University is able to meet the requirements of sponsorship for any particular project. This includes checking that the project is covered by the University's insurance arrangements and that project managers are aware of their responsibilities including conducting research to the agreed protocol and in accordance with legal requirements and guidance, e.g. on consent and data retention.

Further Advice and Guidance

The Research Governance pages of the University's intranet are available to staff and students at: http://rbi.uwe.ac.uk/internet/Research/ResGov/ 

To further assist faculties with the responsibilities of sponsorship under the DH framework, the following central contacts are available for advice:

  • Brian Allen/Jane Foley, Research, Business and Innovation - legal issues and requirements, institutional agreements, intellectual property, research sponsorship advice. .
  • Dr Amanda Longley, Secretary, University Research Ethics Committee - ethical issues and ethical approval processes. .
  • John Elliott, Finance - insurance and indemnity issues, Data Protection.
  • Bill Marshall, Director of Finance
  • Robin Champion, Data Protection, University Safety Advisor - health & safety.
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