Background
The SPARK Sponsorship Committee and Non-Interventional Sponsorship Sub-Committee (NISSC) act on behalf of the University and Liverpool Health Partner (LHP) organisations to review Sponsored research undertaken in the NHS or health care systems in other countries. The Committees review whether research is undertaken within the requirements of relevant national legislation and guidance to ensure that research is scientifically sound, to provide support in ensuring appropriate oversight of UoL Sponsored Interventional projects, and to oversee the UoL Quality Assurance and Audit system. The work predominantly considers projects at the outset but can also include reviewing challenges and mitigations that arise during (or after) studies.
The Sponsorship Committee meets monthly, reviews approximately 30 projects a year, and members are expected to review at least 3 projects in detail a year. The Sponsorship Committee focuses on interventional studies and non-interventional studies that are not low risk. A Committee member is expected to spend about 35 hours a year on this role.
The NISSC meets monthly and reviews approximately 60 projects a year. NISSC focuses on low risk non-interventional studies hosted by health care systems from across the University and LHP Partners. A NISSC member is expected to spend about 24 hours a year on this role.
Membership of either committee will provide an insight into the processes and decisions surrounding the governance of Clinical Research as well an opportunity to help shape these as part of continuous improvement. If you feel that Sponsorship takes too long or makes the wrong decisions this is your opportunity to improve things. Membership of these committees is not remunerated and is included in the job plans of members.
Call for expressions of interest
The committees are looking for clinical academics and clinicians to become members of one or both committees to help support the work of the city’s clinical research community. Clinical academics and clinicians should have been awarded a higher research degree and have protected time for research (Lecturer or equivalent or more senior; Honorary appointees are encouraged to apply). Both committees are keen to expand membership across all areas of expertise, and NISSC is particularly keen to include a Laboratory based Clinical Researcher in the membership.
How to apply
For more information or to express your interest please contact Karen Wilding via kwilding@liverpool.ac.uk by 17th June 2022.