Policies and guidelines
The NIHR funds world-leading research and we operate to the highest standards.
We are signatories of both the Concordat to Support Research Integrity and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.
At NIHR, we expect our staff and the researchers we fund to abide by all regulatory and legislative frameworks in relation to research practice, transparency and governance. We are committed to fully investigating any alleged wrongdoing and ensuring individuals are confident and protected in bringing matters to our attention. We support and adhere to the government approach to whistleblowing.
Branding and acknowledgement
Our key guidelines for using the NIHR visual identity and acknowledging the contribution of the NIHR.
Research practice
Use of animals in research
Our funding is focused on translational, clinical and applied health and care research. We therefore do not fund basic research or work involving animals, animal tissue or both.
However, we do work in close partnership with the Medical Research Council, which funds animal research in carefully defined circumstances. We recognise that the carefully regulated use of animals in research is important in understanding disease and in developing safe and effective ways of preventing or treating illness.
We also recognise the need for robust application of the 3Rs – that animals are replaced with non-animal alternatives wherever possible, that the number of animals used is reduced to the minimum needed to achieve the results sought, and that, for those animals which must be used, procedures are refined as much as possible to minimise their suffering.
Read more about the government’s policies on research using animals set out in Working to reduce the use of animals in scientific research (.PDF).
Research culture and integrity
A positive research culture requires a number of key elements to support it and these include a supportive environment for researchers and their career development, and clear principles for research integrity and conducting research.
The senior member of staff responsible for oversight of research integrity is Dr Mark Toal, Deputy Director of Research Systems at the Department of Health and Social Care - nihrpolicies@dhsc.gov.uk
The NIHR lead contact for research integrity is Mary Buxton, NIHR Head of Assurance - mary.buxton@nihr.ac.uk.
Revenue sharing
Our revenue sharing policies set out how commercialisation agreements relating to commercial use of NIHR-funded IP are negotiated and managed.
Other key policies
Open access publishing
Our open access policy requires all peer-reviewed research articles arising from NIHR-funded research studies to be made immediately open access under an open licence.
Privacy and Freedom of Information
Privacy
The NIHR privacy policy outlines how we use and securely protect any information that you give us when you use the NIHR website and other websites, systems and services of organisations that are contracted to the Department of Health and Social Care.
It covers the type of information we collect and what we do with it, and also how long we keep it.
As part of this policy you have a right to find out about the personal information we hold about you. If you would like a copy of your personal data or if you have any questions about the privacy policy please write or email:
NIHR Service Desk
Back Lane
Melbourn
Royston
SG8 6DP
Protecting personal data
Researchers and study coordinators must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) with respect to processing personal data, such as from research participants.
The Health Research Authority has published operational guidance on the implications of the GDPR for the delivery of research in the UK.
Patient consent
People who are invited to take part in health and care research must give informed consent before being enrolled. For consent to be considered both legal and ethical it must be:
- given by a person with capacity
- voluntarily given, with no undue influence
- given by someone who has been adequately informed
- a fair choice.
We expect that research funded or supported by the NIHR follows best practice in consent and the preparation of information for participants, as set out by the Health Research Authority.