Regulatory framework

The Trust R&D Team is ready to help all researchers, from students to professors and senior clinicians whether employed by the NHS, industry, the charities, research councils or universities. This website provides links to local assistance for researchers and details the principal processes which we administer. RDDirect is a national site providing similar advice

> RDDirect

All projects require "R&D Approval" in accordance with the NHS Research Governance Framework before they can be carried out on our site using hospital staff, facilities patients, their tissues or data. Specifically, local R&D approval is given to projects under the Trust's policy which Cambridge University Hospital staff can download from here:

Policy and Procedure Trust Management Approval for Research Studies (CUH staff only) Version 1 April 2008 (89 KB)

Research in the Trust is managed according to standard operating practices as detailed in the following documents.

Delegation of roles and responsibilities (70 KB)

Regulating investigators

Part of our role is to ensure that the people conducting the research on our patients are properly authorised, screened and trained to do so safely. This means keeping track of who is working on a project and whether they have been cleared to work with patients. For more information about this aspect of our work see

The National Health Service has procedures for ensuring that all personnel conducting research are properly qualified to do so and researchers from academic institutions will need Honorary Contracts with the Trust, which may involve criminal record checks being carried out by their employers.

Encouraging innovation

We aim to create an environment where innovation is possible and where investigators can be encouraged and supported to exploit their intellectual property.

Cambridge Enterprise at Addenbrooke's is a dedicated service set up by Addenbrooke's Hospital for staff on the Addenbrooke's site. Its role is to support continuing improvements in healthcare by encouraging the uptake of innovation from staff by the commercial sector. The service is for all University and NHS staff working at the Addenbrooke's site.

The Trust has policies in place and agreements with its principal partners governing any intellectual property which is generated during research which it sponsors.

Policy and Procedure Intellectual Property Version 2 September 2008 (260 KB)

Do you have an idea that might have commercial potential?

If you have an idea that could be of commercial value, Cambridge Enterprise staff are happy to give advice on matters relating to intellectual property and how research can be applied to the commercial sector.

> Cambridge Enterprise

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