Research governance framework

The Department of Health's Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care (RGF) (DH; 2001 & 2005) outlines principles of good governance that apply to all research within the remit of the Secretary of State for Health, and applies to much of the University of Kent's health and social care research. Its aim is to bring together general principles of good practice, and it groups these under five domains: ethics, science, information; health, safety and employment; finance and intellectual property.

A research project falls within the remit of the Department of Health's Research Governance Framework if it involves:

  • Patients and users of the NHS. This includes all potential research participants recruited by virtue of the patient or user's past or present treatment by, or use of, the NHS. It includes NHS patients treated under contracts with private sector institutions
  • Individuals identified as potential research participants because of their status as relatives or carers of patients and users of the NHS, as defined above
  • Service users and carers of those in receipt of social services whether these are provided by a local authority or the independent sector
  • Access to data, organs or other bodily material of past and present NHS patients
  • Access to data of social services users or their relatives or carers
  • Foetal material and IVF involving NHS patients
  • The recently dead in NHS premises
  • The use of, or potential access to, NHS or social care premises or facilities
  • NHS or social care staff - recruited as research participants by virtue of their professional role
  • Research taking place in a prison or a young offender institution in England and Wales (which is health related)
  • Research taking place in a private hospital/care facility.

All research projects that involve any of the above must be registered with Research Services. The project registration form and further instructions are available on the registration page.

The form is designed to capture all the required information, but for certain projects, additional clarification on some points may be requested. If you have any questions about completing the form, contact the Research Ethics and Governance Officer who will be happy to help you.