NIHR Update: Improving information governance (IG) review processes
Date: 18 March 2026
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust has carried out a project to speed up the information governance (IG) review process for health research, resulting in faster study set-up times.
Driven by the UK government’s goal of reducing clinical trial set-up to under 150 days, the project addressed a key delay: the common practice of research sites duplicating the national IG review already completed by the Health Research Authority (HRA).
Colleagues from the trust’s research and development team were supported by the NIHR Research Delivery Network to develop the new process, with input and engagement from the HRA. Now, studies not sponsored by the trust and undergoing HRA’s study-wide review will no longer be routinely submitted for a duplicate local IG check. This clarity reduces risk from conflicting assessments and has already led to faster set-up for complex commercial studies.
The HRA is now incorporating these – and other – system learnings into its new ‘What Good IG Looks Like’ guide, helping other trusts nationwide adopt a more proportionate and efficient approach. The guide is currently being piloted on the HRA website for comment.