https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/our-research/our-research-infrastructure/joint-research-and-development-office-rd/clinical-research-adoptions-committee-crac/
Unfunded research projects
Great Ormond Street Hospital supports unfunded research projects through its Clinical Research Adoptions Committee (CRAC) since it recognises the importance and value that such projects bring, either immediately or in the longer term should they become funded research projects.
As part of the selection process, the Trust must understand the resources required to undertake an 'unfunded' project – such as staff resources (even in your own time), physical Trust resources and infrastructure, or indirectly through the R&D and Admin teams supporting the project.
Consequently, all requests for Trust “pro-bono” research support to the CRAC Committee will undergo initial triage to determine whether the Trust would support the work if it was approved.
Once a project has passed triage, the PI will be invited to complete the full CRAC form and their project will be reviewed by the full CRAC committee.
The Committee review will explore the feasibility, methodology, required resources, and potential for harm of your project, and ensure that the research is suitable and appropriate to be carried out at GOSH and with participants from GOSH patients and staff (where applicable).
If the committee subsequently approve the project, then it will proceed to Governance review and to obtain additional permissions as necessary (Governance and R&D approval, ethical approval, approval from Sponsorship, DTC or MESG, as appropriate).
For advice regarding necessary additional approvals, please contact the team.
Email: research.governance@gosh.nhs.uk
Alternatively, read the medical devices and innovative procedures policy or visit the HRA - IRAS Website.
This approval process can take between 3 and 6 months depending on the complexity of the project.
MSc students external to GOSH wishing to undertake a dissertation project at GOSH should contact CRAC Admin since triage will not be required.
Please note, the Trust will not indemnify or act as sponsor for own account research that has not been peer reviewed.
This committee, chaired by Dr Simon Eaton, sits monthly (except August) to review protocols. It is composed of a combination of senior clinicians actively engaged in clinical research, psychologists, allied health professionals, academics and a statistician. CRAC can suggest the use of extra GOSH resources and will provide advice on statistics, research methods and research ethics.
We strongly recommend that you submit your application to CRAC prior to seeking ethics or regulatory approval.
Research Sponsorship
CRAC does not give sponsorship approval for projects. Please discuss your project with the R&D Governance Team as early in the development process as possible to determine whether GOSH would act as research sponsor for your project. GOSH has some flexibility regarding project sponsorship but will not act as sponsor in certain circumstances (e.g. international studies where GOSH is a site, “off license” device studies or where a device is not CE marked.
Please contact research.governance@gosh.nhs.uk to arrange a discussion with the Governance Team.
Student projects will normally be sponsored by the host University.
Meeting dates 2025
2025
Please note that all Full application submission deadlines will be 2 weeks before the CRAC meeting date detailed below.
- 14 October - Triage Submission deadline: 02 September
- 11 November - Triage Submission deadline: 30 September
- 9 December - Triage Submission deadline: 28 October
2026
Please note that all Full application submission deadlines will be 2 weeks before the CRAC meeting date detailed below.
- 13 January - Triage Submission deadline: 02 December 2025
- 10 February - Triage Submission deadline: 06 January 2026
- 10 March - Triage Submission deadline: 03 February
- 07 April - Triage Submission deadline: 24 February
- 12 May - Triage Submission deadline: 31 March
- 09 June - Triage Submission deadline: 28 April
- 14 July - Triage Submission deadline: 02 June
- 9 September - Triage Submission deadline: 26 August
- 14 October - Triage Submission deadline: 02 September
- 11 November - Triage Submission deadline: 30 September
- 9 December - Triage Submission deadline: 28 October
CRAC review
All clinical research projects at GOSH that are own account (or have not undergone formal peer review) require CRAC review. Please consider the points raised in the drop-down boxes below. If your project is research, uses GOSH resources (staff or infrastructure) and is unfunded or not fully-funded it may require evaluation by CRAC. If you have any questions please contact crac.admin@gosh.nhs.uk.
Research is defined by the Research Governance Framework as an “attempt to derive generalisable new knowledge by addressing clearly defined questions with systematic and rigorous methods.”
To determine if your project is classed as research and whether it may need ethics review, please use HRA decision tools:
We want to ensure that the CRAC application process is efficient. On occasion we have observed situations where staff have taken forwards applications to CRAC – which have been reviewed then as suitable for clinical audit or service evaluation.
We are keen to avoid staff unnecessarily completing paperwork and waiting for decision making , where proposals don’t require approval from CRAC.
Please see our summary guide on the distinctions between Clinical Audit, service evaluation, and research. This also includes guidance on how to contact the clinical audit team at GOSH and steps to take if unsure about the nature of your proposal. It is recommended to read this before starting a CRAC application.
It involves any GOSH resources, GOSH staff, or GOSH patients (including patient samples or data).
It is unfunded and you have not secured funding to cover the cost of GOSH and University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health resources (staff time, service support costs, consumables) associated with the project. Or your project has not gone through an appropriate peer review process.
To apply for review by CRAC you should complete and submit the following documents:
- CRAC Triage Application form. Please read the guidance document carefully, as this will give you key information to complete the Triage CRAC form.
For invited full applications:
CRAC Full Application form. Please read the guidance document carefully, as this will give you key information to complete the full CRAC form
- A study protocol (templates available on HRA website)
- Other documents relevant to your study, such as questionnaires, patient information sheets, consent forms
- When completed, the application form must be sent by email to CRAC.Admin@gosh.nhs.uk
Once your application has been triaged, the committee secretary will contact you to inform you of the outcome. If you have been invited to submit a full application, there will be the opportunity to attend the CRAC meeting to discuss your application in person. The committee secretary will organise this once your CRAC application has been registered.
CRAC offers a Development Peer Review service for applications in preparation for submission to external funders. The service is for PIs based at GOSH that don’t have access to another peer review facility (University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Chalkboards).
If you would like to use this facility, please contact crac.admin@gosh.nhs.uk in the first instance.
Applications that will value over £250,000 on submission are welcome.
Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in CRAC
CRAC recruits lay members who provide essential insight from patients and parents perspective, and advocate for patients in paediatric medical research .
The committee currently has 3 PPIE members.
We are not currently seeking lay members, and any opportunity to join CRAC as a PPIE member will be advertised accordingly.
More information about the PPIE role within CRAC can be found in the Role Description
To aid the training and development for our current PPIE members we have compiled a Guidance Booklet, which should provide further support and tips regarding producing a PPIE review.
Contact information
To submit your application or for advice or enquiries about the CRAC meetings or process, contact:
Email: CRAC.Admin@gosh.nhs.uk