Sponsorship review

Most research studies require a sponsor organisation to take on the responsibility for the initiation and management of the study. Research sponsors are responsible for the review of research applications to ensure that they have passed appropriate scientific quality standards, ensuring that the study has ethical approval before it begins and, where required, seeking a clinical trial authorisation. 

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust currently acts as sponsor to the following types of studies: 

  • basic science study involving procedures with human participants 
  • administering questionnaires/interviews for quantitative analysis, or using a mixed quantitative/qualitative methodology 
  • involving qualitative methods only 
  • limited to working with human tissue samples (or other human biological samples) and data (specific project only) 
  • limited to working with data (specific project only) 
  • research tissue bank 
  • research database 

If you require a sponsor for your research study, please contact the research and development team as early as possible.  A member of the team will be allocated to discuss your project with you and provide advice. 

If your study is eligible for Royal Free sponsorship, a member of the research and development team will facilitate a sponsorship review. 

If you would like to find out more about determining the category of your project and the process for applying for research sponsorship, please download our SOP below: