What is sponsorship?

The Sponsor is an institution or organisation that takes on the legal responsibility for the initiation and management of the research study, but is not necessarily the funder. Depending on the type of study you have there may or may not be a financial implication to running the study.

The Department of Health Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care requires all studies to have an identified Sponsor.

You will need to identify an institution that is willing to take on this role. Many of the main funding bodies are willing to provide grants for research, but are not able to take on the responsibilities of Sponsor.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHFT) is willing to accept the role of Sponsor of a research study only if the below conditions have been met:

• The HRA tool confirmed that your study is a research study.
  
• OHFT is your substantive employer. If you hold a contract with another Trust or an educational institution, it’s more appropriate for them to sponsor your study. If you are a student please contact your University to discuss sponsorship with them.
• Your study is not a CTIMP (Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products).
• It’s a single site study, however, you can use other Trusts as PICs (Participant Identification Centre).

If you feel that you meet the above conditions please contact research@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk. The team will be able to advise you on the next step.

Timelines for the review process are unpredictable due to the individual design of the study, level of input from the Research Management and Research Informatics Teams that may be required as well as staff being delegated to COVID-19 related tasks.