Promoting transparency around publication of health research findings

In May 2013, the Health Research Authority outlined plans on how it will play a leading role in ensuring clinical and other health research findings are published. The HRA has an established role to promote transparency and already publishes research study summaries and the opinions of its Research Ethics Committees (RECs).

On 25 April 2013, the HRA led a stakeholder workshop, at which it made, with the full support of its partners, a number of commitments, which are now being sent out for further comment. These include proposals:

To make the registration of clinical trials within an agreed timeframe a condition of REC approval from September 2013
To work with research funders and sponsors to set standards for the publication and dissemination of research outcomes
To develop mechanisms to actively review plans for publication against these standards and include them specifically within the condition of the REC approval
To develop simple mechanisms to monitor compliance with REC approved plans to publish
To set standards and issue guidance for how those that have participated in research are appropriately informed of individual outcomes and study results at the end
To work with regulators of professions to address the misconduct of withholding results
Work with publishers to dispel the myths and perceptions about the difficulties in publishing results

The HRA will work with partners to turn these commitments into actions and welcomes further views on the plans.

Website: HRA Transparent Research paper and press release