Health Research Authority outlines transparency plans

The Health Research Authority has outlined new proposals to guarantee the publication of health research findings.

The organisation was set up in December 2011 in a bid to unite and streamline the country’s research-approvals while protecting and highlighting the interests of patients and the public.

Speaking to Pharma Times, the authority’s chief executive Janet Wisely noted that determined leadership and commitment will be required to increase the openness of companies.

Ms Wisely explained that plans are now being shared in a robust and sustainable way, and the organisation is addressing the topic of data transparency in parliament this week.

She is appearing as an expert witness in the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s continual enquiry into clinical research.

The organisation is hoping to co-ordinate “activity in the UK to model and support success, create a culture of openness [and] challenge behaviours and opinions that present barriers to transparency”.

The HRA explained: “We believe this set of proposals … if implemented will increase public confidence by making the best possible use of their contribution to health research.

“Increasing transparency will avoid duplication, streamline research by improving efficiency, fundamentally improve patient safety and help to make the UK an even more attractive place in which to do good quality research.”

Included in the group’s proposals are plans to work with research funders to set standards for the publication of research outcomes, while developing mechanisms to track compliance with REC-approved plans.

Recently, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) committed to clinical trial transparency by announcing plans to make study reports available through its clinical trials register.

These reports will provide information on the design, methods and results of research.

It has vowed to publish information for all of its medicines after they have been approved or discontinued from development.

Posted by Ben Evans