Research Passports

What is a Research Passport?

A Research Passport is the mechanism by which non-NHS staff, that have no contractual relationship with the NHS, obtain an Honorary Research Contract or Letter of Access to enable them to carry out Research at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH).  Essentially it is a common system of pre-engagement checks which conform to the standards of all NHS organisations and the Passport is therefore transferable to any other NHS Trusts where a Researcher wishes to carry out research – this avoids the need for each Trust to carry out separate pre-engagement checks.

How to get a Research Passport and associated Honorary Research Contract or Letter of Access:

Visit the Health Research Authority website for details of the Research Passport System, for a research passport form and guidance notes on how to complete it please see the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) website.

Researchers applying to NNUH should:

• Complete Sections 1, 2 and 3 (i.e. questions 1-6) of the Research Passport Form and then sign and date it.
• Ask the line manager for the substantive post to complete Section 4 ‘Suitability of the Researcher’.  For HEI students, the academic supervisor can complete this.
• Send the form to the substantive employer e.g. The University Registry/HR for Staff or the PGR office for a student researcher.  The substantive employer should complete Section 5 ‘Pre-engagement checks’.

Once all Sections are complete, the applicant should forward the form including the documents listed below to the Research Governance Administrator at NNUH via (rdoffice@nnuh.nhs.uk), or for any queries contact the R&D office on 01603 289808 and ask for the Research Governance Administrator.

• Up-to date signed CV. Template available on the HRA website
• Evidence of NIHR Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training dated within the last 3 years (e-learning can be accessed via the GCP information page on the NIHR website).
• Evidence of NHS Data Security Awareness training   The course is called Data Security Awareness – Level 1 and is accessed via this link.   Email the provider once registered to request access to the course if an .ac.uk suffix does not provide automatic access to the course.