University of Bristol processes

University of Bristol processes for Research Governance and Sponsorship

The University of Bristol (UoB) is committed to ensuring that high quality research is encouraged and supported whilst complying with legislation. The UoB will usually be able to act as a research sponsor for projects where the Chief Investigator is a UoB employee provided a risk assessment (in the form of a research registration checklist) is completed and submitted.

The Research Registration Checklist (RRC)

For funded projects which go through the Universitys finance office, the UoB project costing form asks the following question to identify if a sponsor is likely to be required:

  • Does your research involve human participants (including but not limited to questionnaires, interviews, human samples and clinical research)?

If you answer yes to this question a University Research Registration Checklist (RRC) will need to be completed. The RRC and guidance notes for completing it can be found on the UoB website: http://www.bris.ac.uk/red/support/governance/

The RRC provides the Research Governance Team with a top level risk assessment and, once completed, it should be sent to the Research Governance Team.

For unfunded and student projects that do not require a UoB project costing form, the UoB needs your help in ensuring that these are appropriately registered and sponsored using the RRC to ensure you can legally do the work.

If your research has a sponsor other than the UoB but the UoB will host an element of the study, please also complete a RRC to register your project.

If you have asked the UoB to be your sponsor using the RRC you cannot start the project until you have received a letter from the Head of Research Governance confirming full sponsorship by UoB. It is recommended that you contact the UoB Research Governance Team early in the application process to ensure that it is appropriate for the UoB to take on the responsibility of sponsorship. This will also help you to get the other necessary approvals.

Please contact the Research Governance Team if you have any questions:

Research and Enterprise Development
University of Bristol
Senate House
Tyndall Avenue
Bristol BS8 1TH
Tel: 0117 954 33 17130    
Fax: 0117 929 8383  
email: research-governance@bristol.ac.uk
website: http://www.bris.ac.uk/red/support/governance/

Insurance

Questions A76 (1-4) and A77 on the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) deal with insurance provisions for the study.  If you are a University employee acting as Chief Investigator you are advised to let the University Insurance Officer have a draft copy of your ethics application form so you can insert the correct wording to answer these sections and attach a letter confirming the University's insurance cover. This should be done regardless of whether the University is likely to be your sponsor.

Please contact:
Ginny Hope
University Insurance Officer
Secretarys Office
Senate House
Tyndall Avenue
Bristol BS8 1TH.  
Tel: 0117 342 7791    
email: Ginny.Hope@bristol.ac.uk