Research transparency webinar - sharing results with research participants

Have you shared the outcomes of your clinical trial with the people who took part?

Did you know this will be a legal requirement as of April 2026?

The Health Research Authority (HRA) will be holding an online event to support researchers to provide good quality feedback to participants and give clarity on the new clinical trials regulations.

Why is this important?

The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Participant in Research Experience Survey 2023-24 found that over a quarter (27%) of participants didn’t know when they would receive the results of the research they had taken part of. This was an increase from the number reported the previous year. 

The findings of research are expected to be communicated to participants as part of ethical review, which appropriately respects the contribution they’ve made. However, this is often overlooked, which can lead to participants feeling undervalued, discouraging them from taking part again.

Plus, things will be changing.

The HRA has working with the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the most significant overhaul of clinical trials legislation in two decades. The new Clinical Trials regulations will come into effect in April 2026, and change our current policy expectations into legal requirements.

What will the webinar cover?

The webinar is for researchers, research sponsors, chief investigators, or anyone involved in planning or conducting research.

Guest speakers from the Medical Research Council Clinical Trial’s Unit at University College London (UCL) and National Institute for Health and Care Research will cover:

• the perceived barriers to feeding back to participants and how to overcome these
• the key principles of feeding back to participants and clarity on HRA approvals requirements
• a case study example of what good participant feedback looks like
• what you need to know about the research transparency changes to the new clinical trials regulations that will come into effect from April 2026

This webinar is organised by the HRA. Contact the HRA team for any queries.