February 2026 Newsletter
Date: 28 February 2026
Welcome to the RDF February 2026 Newsletter
February may be a short month in the number of days it has, but we are now experiencing longer days, with the sunrise earlier and the sunset later. Seeing the buds on trees starting to open, hearing the birdsong at sunrise while walking Frank (the dog!), and feeling a bit more warmth in the air makes me smile.
This month’s newsletter is also relatively short in content but that does not mean there is nothing to share. Work is going on behind the scenes to ensure RDF26 is an event where we take full advantage of our time together to connect, reconnect and learn. RDF26 will also gift you the time to be mindful, which is so important when our minds are always full. Our training review is progressing well, and we are working hard to ensure your voices are heard when the only certainty is uncertainty, and what truly matters is you, and the difference you make to people’s lives through health and care research.
And for that, I thank you.
Angela Topping
Chair, R&D Forum
What will you learn about at RDF26?
Hear from experts across the UK health and care R&D landscape in Birmingham
Over two days, the RDF26 agenda brings together real-world insight from across the health and care R&D system, from study set-up and governance to inclusion, data, workforce and system leadership. With plenaries, breakouts, posters and live discussion woven throughout, RDF26 is shaping up to be a practical, collaborative programme designed around the challenges people are facing right now.
With over 700 registrations prior to Early Bird closing, and a programme which has been built from across the UK R&D health and care research community, RDF26 is set to be yet another amazing event.
HIVE Mind meeting – call for support
The RDF HIVE Mind community, a peer led and supported network, now have over 350 members on its mailing list. It meets online, the first Thursday of every month, at 11am for 60 minutes, and is something that is of value and is valued by the community.
To ensure we can sustain this online network, we need your help.
Each online session requires someone to Chair it. The role of Chair is to bring any pre-registered suggested topics to the meeting and support the flow of the conversations during it.
Chairs will be added to the existing rota, with the current commitment being a session once a quarter. The more we have on the rota, the fairer it becomes.
If this is something you would be interested in doing, or if you have any further questions, please contact info@rdforum.org.uk
Join us on 21st April for Regulatory Inspection Ready Training Course
In our January 2026 newsletter, we shared that RDF is currently reviewing its training offer, not only in response to the upcoming clinical trials regulation reform from April 2026, but also to better meet the needs of the UK health and care research community in line with the 10 year health plan for England
Our updated offer will be going live in April 2026, with our first course to go live being the one-day Regulatory Inspection Ready Training Course.
Price: £250 + VAT
Location: Online
Duration: 1 Day (9am-5pm) – 21st April
This course is aimed at those who deliver research in a healthcare setting either in a Sponsor team or as a Host, and that maybe subject to regulatory inspection. Delegates will learn strategies that build confidence for an inspection from any of the regulators for example the MHRA, Human Tissue Authority or Human Embryology & Fertilisation Authority.
Upon successful completion of the course, participants should be able to:
- Explain the types of inspections, their purpose and jurisdiction that an active research organisation may experience
- Develop an action plan to prepare for Inspection
- Develop a strategy to assure compliance to legislation
- Have some knowledge of previous inspection findings
- Gain an understanding of corrective actions and preventative actions
NIHR Updates
- Public Health research delivery support
- Updated Eligibility Criteria for RDN supported studies
- New NIHR Learn course on the RDN funding model – NIHR RDN funding model update
- NIHR20 Research Leaders Prizes – Applications now open
- NIHR update on 150-day study set-up
- NIHR workstreams and support – latest updates
- RECIST Reporting Study Event: Friday 24th April, 2026, 09:00am – 13:00pm
- NIHR at 20: powering the health and wealth of the nation
HRA Update: HRA and MHRA clinical trials regulations webinar
The Health Research Authority (HRA) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are holding a webinar about the changes to clinical trials regulations that come into effect on 28 April 2026.
The Clinical Trials Regulations: Countdown to Implementation webinar takes place online on Thursday 12 March from 2pm to 4pm (GMT).
The webinar will cover the key changes in the updated regulations, the published guidance to support you through the transition, and have HRA and MHRA experts on hand to answer your questions.
The link the register can be found below
The webinar will be recorded, so if you can’t join, the recording will be made available soon after.
HRA Update: Making changes to promote consistency across research
The HRA, working in partnership with other UK organisations that support research, is introducing changes to how non-CTIMPs are processed and managed to align with the updated clinical trials regulations.
The changes will promote consistency across health and social care research in the UK and will streamline the applications process.
Dr Catherine Blewett, Senior Development Manager, has written a blog to highlight all the changes and to explain why they’re being introduced and what they will mean for sponsors and researchers.
Read blog and updates below.
Research governance and ethics resources repository
The research governance frameworks and associated documentation below have kindly been shared by local authorities. You may find these useful examples to refer to if you are considering developing or updating a research governance framework or process within your organisation.
Each local authority adopts its own approach to research governance, and processes and procedures naturally vary across organisations. We do not endorse one particular approach over another and would be happy to discuss the value of different methodologies.
We are not responsible for the content of the documents shared by local authorities. Please note that these documents may be updated at the source periodically. We recommend also visiting each local authority’s research governance webpage to ensure you have the most current information.
Launching The Big Clinical Trials Sustainability Survey, Shaping the Future Towards Low Carbon Trials
The Sustainable Healthcare Coalition have launched a short global survey to understand how environmentally sustainable practices are being applied in clinical trials today and where the greatest opportunities for improvement lie.
Your input will help shape strategies to reduce environmental impact without compromising quality, patient safety, or data integrity.
Who should take part?
We welcome insights from sponsors, CROs, clinical supply professionals, and anyone involved in the clinical trial ecosystem, no matter your level of experience or your views on environmental sustainability.
Please take a moment to complete the survey and help us reach even further by sharing it across your teams, suppliers, sponsors, and wider network.
Guidance on interpretation of IR(ME)R 2017 and IR(ME)R (Northern Ireland) 2018 in NHS research involving ionising radiation in England, Northern Ireland or Wales
Important clarifications on national research review processes and IR(ME)R legislation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to help make NHS study set-up and the delivery of research easier. This guidance is for all those involved in the set-up and delivery of research studies involving ionising radiation as part of medical (diagnostic or therapeutic) exposures delivered in the NHS in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Increasing diversity in research participation: A good practice guide for engaging with underrepresented groups
The Warwickshire Research Engagement Network (REN) has created a guiding tool to:
- Help researchers understand why research participation might be low in a group
- Provide meaningful insights into working with groups where participation in research is low
- Provide practical suggestions to increase participation in research
Out Now: “Learning from PPI in Action” – Your practical guide to impactful involvement
This e-book, compiled from the first six sessions of our NIHR PPI in Action webinar series, offers a unique look into successful Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) across health and social care research. From dementia care and childhood obesity prevention to HGV driver health and refugee mental health, this collection provides a rich tapestry of real-world examples.
Why read it?
- Practical Insights: It moves beyond theory to show how the UK Standards for Public Involvement come to life in practice.
- Diverse Case Studies: Learn about creative methods like arts-based engagement for non-verbal expression and experience-based co-design.
- Honest Lessons: The chapters highlight both successes and challenges in recruitment, ethics, governance, and dissemination.
Whether you are a researcher, a public contributor, or a policymaker, this e-book offers an experience-based roadmap to high-quality, inclusive involvement.
New payment rates for public involvement
The NIHR has increased the payment rate for public involvement within the NIHR by 10%. The uplift came into effect from 16 December 2025. The HRA’s current public involvement payment rates are aligned with the NIHR’s and we are now reviewing our payments to bring them in line with the new NIHR rates, with the aim of introducing an increase in 2026.
MRC public partnerships in research webinar
Join the Medical Research Council (MRC) for a one-hour webinar which provides guidance on effectively integrating public partnerships into MRC research applications on 24 March 2026, from 2pm to 3pm.
It is likely to be of most interest to researchers, research office professional services staff supporting grant applications, and the public involvement and engagement community. MRC is encouraging its research community to consider how public partnerships can inform and improve research and be of mutual benefit.
Further information can be found on their public partnerships strategy webpages, including examples of good practice for researchers.
RDF Resource Exchange
Resources from The Research and Development Forum are there to support health and care research in the UK.
Browse the Resources available to the RDF below.
Contacting The Research and Development Forum
As a reminder, should you need to contact the Forum the best way is via email which is info@rdforum.org.uk