Coronavirus (COVID-19)

13th March 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - arrangements for clinical trials/studies in NHS Boards

The rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation will necessitate changes to arrangements for clinical research in order to help protect patient safety and support resilience in the NHS. In order to respond to this situation Health Boards involved in clinical research studies and trials are issuing guidance and advice.

The Health Board R&D offices are in close communication with each other, the Chief Scientist Office and NHS Research Scotland. Health Board advice on research will reflect local circumstances and be risk based. This will include guidance on the local arrangements for studies/trials that are recruiting patients and for the ongoing monitoring of patients already enrolled in trials to help ensure treatment, care and patient and staff safety are prioritised and can be sustained. Advice will be kept under review to reflect changing circumstances.

Announcements

UK-wide advice has been issued by the Health Research Authority (HRA) for sponsors, sites and researchers on research governance arrangements to support changes to existing studies as well as for new studies relating directly to Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Read more
The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued advice for the management of clinical trials in relation to Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Read more

If you have any immediate questions please first consult the local advice provided by your Health Board R&D office or get in contact with the relevant office. Contact details are available here

Details of local and UK wide advice will continue to be published on this webpage and announcements made via @NHSResearchScot

You can find general guidance about COVID-19 via Scottish Government website and their main twitter channel (@ScotGov).

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