Making it easier for you to carry out research

We’re committed to making research at GOSH and with our partners easier, faster, and more efficient. Through our Process Optimisation programme, we’ve introduced changes that reduce administrative burden, improve transparency, and accelerate approvals—without increasing risk. These improvements were shaped by feedback from researchers and developed in collaboration with teams across the joint Research and Development Office.

• Process improvement - Digitising and simplifying grant registration, management, and monitoring.
• Transparency and oversight - New governance boards with representation from all hospital directorates and Institute faculties, plus clearer communication on processes and requirements.
• Specialist support - Advisory groups for advanced therapies, devices, and bioethics to bring expertise into decision-making.
• Collaboration made easier - Weekly co-located sessions with GOSH and UCL finance and governance teams for real-time support.

Here’s what you need to do differently, or be reminded about, under our new processes: [Last updated Dec 2025]

• Continue to register your project via the form and process here
• No finance approval needed if only staff time is used and governance confirms low risk.
• See guidance on <£20k project registration below.

• Minimum registration at application stage requires only an email to Research.Registration@gosh.nhs.uk with the following information:

1. Name of PI
2. Project title
3. Lead organisation
4. Sponsor (if needed)
5. Funding amount requested and justification of how the funding amount was determined.

• Full costings not needed
• At outcome – inform: Research.Registration@gosh.nhs.uk if successful or not
• If successful, full registration and costing required here

• If not a trial AND ≤£100k AND within call limit:
  • No finance review at Stage 1 - PIs may still seek finance advice.
  • Full finance review and costings at Stage 2.
• If the grant does not meet ALL THREE of these criteria then full registration must be carried out at Stage 1.

• If your grant was costed and protocol hasn’t changed, no extra finance review required.
• If your grant protocol has changed, summarise the changes and email to Research.finance@gosh.nhs.uk, where the team can approve or escalate to finance.
• Significant financial changes (>10% or >£25k) require a summary for review. Send a summary to finance for review at Research.finance@gosh.nhs.uk

• Continue to send all amendments to Research.governance@gosh.nhs.uk especially if you believe the sponsor has not done so.
• Category C amendments are processed immediately. Coordinators will implement the changes upon notification and no meeting needed.
• Only amendments impacting capacity go to delivery planning/oversight meeting.
• Where Category A and B amendments are received, governance will send a joint email to notify the Principle Investigator, coordinators and lead nurse, plus pharmacy and required support services to establish any impact on capacity to deliver the study
  • If no impact on capacity - governance will notify delivery planning/oversight of the change and no meeting needed. The approval email will be sent to those we are aware are involved in the research – usually those listed as Key Staff in EDGE.
  • Impact on capacity reported - delivery team will complete amendment form on EDGE and seek planning/oversight approval. You will be invited to a delivery team meeting to discuss this impact.

• R&D are not routinely notified of awards to staff.
• Always notify R&D immediately upon receiving an award or amendment.

Want to help shape future improvements? Join one of our seven Process Optimisation workstreams. Email randiprocessoptimisation@gosh.nhs.uk or contact the lead for your area of interest.