New system launched to ease paperwork burden for UK health researchers

A streamlined system being launched today is expected to bring some welcome relief to a large number of UK health researchers.

IRAS (Integrated Research Application System) is an online system which is designed to make the process of applying for approval to conduct research in the health sector easier and less bureaucratic.

Until now, researchers applying for approval to conduct a piece of research in the UK health service have had to grapple with a confusing array of forms, many of which required the same details. Duplicating the information on each review body’s application form has been a time-consuming and frustrating process.

IRAS combines seven review bodies’ applications, so researchers only need to enter their study information once. Once entered into IRAS, the information will populate the applications relevant to the type of research being undertaken.

The system will continue to be improved as feedback is received. The traditional systems will still be available for those researchers who want to use them but they will be phased out later in the year.