September 2026 RDF Newsletter
Date: 1 October 2026
Welcome to the September 2026 RDF Newsletter
Dear Members,
Welcome to the September edition of the RDF newsletter.
Hope you have managed a summer break and had opportunity to enjoy the heatwave. It has again been a busy few months with implementation of NCVR changes from 1st July, publication of the UKRI Strategy 2026 to 2031 and NIHR Research Workforce Update, and Infrastructure funding calls including the NIHR Accelerated Commercial Research Delivery Fund and NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs). There are many challenges to navigate, we can only do this in collaboration with one another. Do take time to reflect on your many achievements, something we often neglect to do.
Looking ahead to RDF27, Call for Abstracts is now open. We are looking for practical experience, innovative approaches and examples of good practice from across health and care research. Share an initiative that has made a difference, explore a challenge you have addressed, or offer learning that could benefit colleagues across the research community. Submissions are invited for Oral Presentations, Interactive Workshops, and Poster Presentations.
Oral abstract deadline: Friday 16 October
Poster abstract deadline: Friday 13 November
Dipak Patel
R&D Forum Trustee
Research and Development Forum Charity Trustee – Expressions of Interest
Due to several trustees retiring or stepping back, creating a need for succession planning and recruitment, the Research and Development Forum are recruiting new trustees and community members are asked to submit their expressions of interest.
Applications should be submitted to info@rdforum.org.uk with a covering letter, 2-page CV (including two references) and completed Research and Development Forum Charity Skills Matrix for consideration (see below).
Please review the role descriptor and please raise an EOI via email to info@rdforum.org.uk
Note: Please complete the columns highlighted in yellow on the Skills Matrix. EOIs should be submitted by Monday October 12th 2026
Download Research and Development Forum Charity Skills Matrix
Resource Available: Updated Research Grant Collaboration Agreement Updated
The RDF Research Contracts Group have produced an updated version of the Collaboration Agreement template (v2.8 – July 2026). The contract was developed by the working group and endorsed by the Four Nations Contracting Leads. The updated template contract is now available on the RDF website.
Did You Know? The Research and Development Forum can promote research job vacancies
Promote research job vacancies to thousands of members across the health and care research community through the RDF. You can share a vacancy in the RDF newsletter by sending the vacancy link to info@rdforum.org.uk for inclusion in the next issue, which is published in the last week of each month. Find the job vacancies this month at the bottom of this issue.
You can also list vacancies directly on the RDF website, where members can browse current opportunities. To submit a vacancy for the website, use the Job Listing submission link below.
Discover more about the Research and Development Forum Working Groups on LinkedIn
Over the coming months, we’ll be shining a spotlight on the Research and Development Forum’s Working Groups on LinkedIn, showcasing the expertise, collaboration and impact they bring to the health and care research community
First up is the Primary Care and Commissioning Working Group, which champions research across primary care, community settings and commissioning organisations. Among other things, the group is a source of expertise and support for the development, implementation, and sharing of best practice for primary care research.
RDF27: Call for abstracts, Exhibition & Sponsorship now open
Several opportunities are now open for the research community to get involved.
The Call for Abstracts is open for oral presentations, interactive workshops and posters, with the oral presentation deadline coming up on Friday 16 October, and poster abstracts due by Friday 13th November.
Organisations can also explore new sponsorship and engagement opportunities, alongside exhibition stands for RDF27.
Whether you have practical learning to share or are looking to connect with colleagues across health and care research, find out how you can take part in Birmingham from 9–11 May 2027.
NIHR Updates
- NIHR Predoctoral Fellowship Application Day- 27 October 2026, 9.15 AM, online
- NIHR Fellowship Application Day – 29 September 2026, 9.15 AM, online
- NIHR Research Delivery Network’s strategic and wider care settings funding 2027/28
- Applications open for the NIHR Senior Research Leader Programme
- NIHR Research Delivery Data and Intelligence – latest update
- NIHR Research Delivery Network facilitate data provision and tool provision that supports NHS guidance for NHS organisations
- Changes to the UK commercial costing reference group
- Streamlined IRAS process for Be Part of Research
- NIHR RSS Toolbox Newsletter & Website Launched
HRA Update: Updates to the commercial and non-commercial model agreements
The following model agreements have been updated:
- model Non-Commercial Agreement (mNCA)
- model Commercial Chief Investigator Agreement (mCCIA) and CRO-mCCIA
- model Clinical Trial Agreement (mCTA) and CRO-mCTA
- model Primary Care mCTAs (PC-mCTAs)
- Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Agreement model Clinical Trial Agreement (ATMP-mCTA) and CRO-ATMP-mCTA
- model Clinical Investigation Agreement (mCIA) and CRO-mCIA
- model Non-Interventional Study Agreement (mNISA) and CRO-mNISA
- commercial hub and spoke agreement
The changes in the commercial agreements balance the rights of all contracting parties relating to the use of confidential information in artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Participating NHS organisations can now use sponsor (and CRO, where relevant) confidential information in their own secure AI tools, under the conditions stated in the contract, without seeking consent.
HRA Update: Finding and contacting people about research – putting our guidance into practice
Last year the HRA published guidance on the legal, policy and ethical issues of recruiting research participants. The guidance is intended to help researchers to use health information to identify people to invite to take part in research. It is crucial though that this is done in a way that people can trust. Dr Alison Knight, HRA Data and Privacy Specialist and Research Data Policy Lead, has written a blog reflecting on the guidance and the practical things that researchers should be considering around recruitment.
HRA Update: A new standardised approach to confirming site selection
The HRA has published a new Site Selected Email Template for sponsors to use when confirming site selection with NHS and HSC organisations in commercial contract clinical trials or clinical investigations. The template has been developed to promote a consistent and standardised approach to communication following site selection, providing clarity for NHS and HSC sites.
Alongside the template, the HRA have also published user guidance to support sponsors and NHS and HSC organisations in understanding when and how the template should be used.
NCVR Update
UKCRD has published information on the improved process and requirements for sites. The accelerated NCVR process was introduced on 1 July 2026. The high level principles to support those commercial clinical trials that entered the National Contract Value Review (NCVR) process prior to this date can also be found via the link below.
New publications – Medium Term Planning Framework Support
NHS England have published two documents to support NHS organisations to undertake research and meet the requirements of the Medium Term Planning Framework:
- Managing research finance in the NHS which provides practical actionable information to make it easier for the NHS to undertake research and manage research finances
- Framework for NHS boards: monitoring research activity provides guidance on what should be included in six monthly research reports to NHS boards, giving them the tools to understand and assess their research activity, income and performance, and to support effective oversight and decision-making
Greener Monitoring Survey – Remote monitoring via direct access to Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
The UK Registered CTU Network Greener Monitoring Group, in collaboration with the RD Forum Sustainability Working Group are interested in understanding what EHR systems are in use in your Trust, whether they allow remote, direct access to clinical trial Sponsor CRAs/Monitors, and if not what the challenges and barriers are to facilitating this.
We would really appreciate your time in completing our short survey, which we anticipate will take 10-15 mins to complete. Please complete this survey by 1st November.
Medical Research Council (MRC) Charity Co-Funding Framework
See below for an opportunity to sign up for an introductory webinar for research managers and academics working in the NHS. UKRI research grants, including Medical Research Council grants, are open to NHS Bodies with research capacity.
- MRC sees strong value in working with charities to bring patient and public priorities closer to research, extend the reach and impact of their funding, and connect researchers with specialist expertise and networks.
- The MRC are launching a new charity co-funding framework developed in collaboration with the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC).
- The new framework makes it easier for charities to co-fund research awards across a broad range of MRC schemes and changes will take effect between October and December 2026
Onboarding of charities to the new framework begins this autumn. The MRC are hosting a webinar for the research community on 5th of October 2026 from 11-12pm. To register to attend one of the webinars please see the link below.
Wellcome’s equity framework
Wellcome has published a new equity framework. This aims to advance inclusive practices that broaden the range of people leading, participating in and benefiting from science, making sure that research is informed by people’s needs and outputs are more trusted and accessible.
NHS GMSC survey request
A survey has been generated for Genetic Modification Safety Committee (GMSC) members to support evidence gathering to understand site level governance reviews in line with local GMO risk assessment processes to ascertain factors that may contribute to delays, explore access to expertise, class and containment decisions and view on a standardised approach.
Results will feed into a Pan-UK Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) Local Operations Group (initiated by the MHRA/HRA) to build a picture of current practices and inform discussions on streamlining future GMO risk assessment processes. The survey closes on 30th October.
ARMA Artificial Intelligence (AI) Survey
ARMA is seeking to understand how the research management and administration community is using, not using, or considering using artificial intelligence (AI) in their work. We want to hear from both those who currently use AI tools and those who do not. The survey will explore current practice, levels of access to approved tools, confidence, concerns, support needs and how ARMA can help the community use AI responsibly, confidently and effectively. The findings will inform future ARMA guidance, training, resources, events and member engagement activities. The survey will close on Wednesday 30 September 2026.
Job Vacancies:
Role: Research and Development Officer (Primary and Community Care), Central East Integrated Care Board, Ely | trac.jobs
Closing 4th October 2026
Link: https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v8286017
Role: Full-time Band 6 Commercial Research Nurse, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Closing 1st October 2026
Link: https://www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/work-with-us/vacancies/#!/job/v8301365
Role: Head of Research and Development, Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Closing 1st October
Link: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9346-26-1136?keyword=Head%20of%20research&language=en
The R&D Forum will list jobs that are relevant to the sector and are posted by non-commercial organisations. Any organisation that is non-commercial and has a vacancy that is of relevance to the health and care research community in the UK can submit their vacancies by completing the submission form via the link below.
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.