We’ve streamlined the IRAS process for Be Part of Research, making it quicker and easier for researchers and Sponsors to use our volunteer registry for their studies.
Following Health Research Authority (HRA) Research Ethics Committee (REC) approval of the platform as a ‘sign-up register database’, integrating the Be Part of Research volunteer registry into your recruitment strategy now takes a fraction of the time.
The volunteer registry provides a secure way for researchers to share their study opportunities with an engaged community of over 730,000 volunteers from across the UK.
What has changed?
Researchers can now use Be Part of Research as a recruitment and referral route through a far simpler IRAS process - even for studies that are already open to recruitment.
Specifically, this important change simplifies 2 previous administrative hurdles:
- No automatic substantial modifications: Researchers no longer need to submit a substantial modification if adding Be Part of Research is the only change to an existing study.
- Lighter document submissions: In addition, researchers do not need to submit specific Be Part of Research materials (such as volunteer information pages, pre-screeners, or outreach emails) as additional documents for REC review solely because they sit on the platform. This applies provided those materials simply reflect your study’s approved protocol, eligibility criteria, and participant-facing information.
How to add Be Part of Research to your study
Whether you are drafting your protocol or need a recruitment boost for a live study, adding the registry is now simple and straightforward.
For new studies (prior to IRAS/ethics application)
Build your recruitment pipeline from day 1 and help future-proof your study’s recruitment by including the registry in your initial submission.
- Update your protocol: Simply include the Be Part of Research registry as a proposed recruitment/referral route in your IRAS submission and study protocol.
- Clarify the volunteer pathway: We’ll support you with onboarding every step of the way. Contact the Be Part of Research team for pre-written text that you can drop directly into your study protocols and IRAS submissions.
For open studies already recruiting
If your study is already open for recruitment but needs a boost, it’s not too late. You can add the registry now with minimal admin:
- No substantial modification needed where adding Be Part of Research is the only change: You no longer need to submit a substantial modification if your only change is adding the registry as a recruitment/referral route.
- Use the IRAS Modification Tool: Sponsors should use the Tool to determine whether and how the change needs to be actioned. Broadly, if the only update needed is to add Be Part of Research, this will normally be processed as a minor modification.
- Note: This streamlined route only applies if there are no other changes being made to your protocol, eligibility criteria, consent process, or participant-facing materials.
When is a Substantial Modification still required?
If you decide to add new eligibility criteria, new screening questions, or new participant-facing information to your Be Part of Research profile that is not already covered by your currently approved study documents, the study team must use the IRAS Modification Tool to determine whether those specific changes need to be submitted as a substantial modification.
Easy to get started
Ready to accelerate your study’s recruitment?
- Find out more how Be Part of Research can support your study
- Complete our study registration form to get started today
- Or if you have any questions, please get in touch by email.
