Tools and support to monitor study progress
The Sponsor Engagement Tool
Visibility of real-time research activity data helps us to understand and optimise all the capacity in the health research system to deliver research quickly and efficiently. To achieve a complete view of all the research taking place, it is crucial that we receive accurate data on study progress from all sponsors.
Our Sponsor Engagement Tool enables sponsors (and their Contract Research Organisations) to provide regular assessments of study progress and ensure the data we hold is up-to-date. Sponsors delivering research in the UK are expected to use this tool while receiving research delivery support from the NIHR.
Benefits of using this tool
- Best practice: helps to optimise research capacity system-wide
- Pragmatic: ensures good portfolio management
- Multi-purpose: the data informs planning and placement decisions for new research
- Collaborative: reflects principles set out in the UK policy framework for health and social care research
- Free: all our Study Support Services are free. Learn why this support is free
View the video below to learn more about the Sponsor Engagement Tool:
How to access the Sponsor Engagement Tool
When you have your approvals in place and your study is live you will receive an automated system email granting access to the Sponsor Engagement Tool.
If you have used NIHR services or tools before (NIHR Learn, CPMS or Open Data Platform) you can use the same account details to log in. If you do not have an account you will be taken to our Identity Gateway to set one up. Once logged in you will see a list of studies associated with the organisation that you represent.
A user guide, FAQs and other supporting materials are available on the NIHR Learn in the Sponsor Engagement Tool section.
If you have problems logging in or registering contact our Study Support Service Helpdesk:
Request support for study performance and delivery
You can request support with performance and delivery for specific studies.
We will work with you to understand what issues might be affecting your study progress and provide targeted advice and support to help get your research back on track. This may involve accessing different aspects of our wider support and service offer, for example:
- Identification of additional research locations (sites or settings) and investigators
- Expert advice on recruitment strategies, NHS care pathways, study design, alternative research capabilities
- Targeted discussions to assist overcoming specific site and/or set-up issues
The support you receive will depend upon your study requirements. Contact our Study Support Service Helpdesk to request this support:
What happens if I decide not to use the support described here?
The support and activities described on this page will help you to ensure your study is delivered within planned timescales.
The studies we support must have clear value to the NHS, as explained in our Eligibility criteria. Studies that are not progressing can have a negative impact on NHS capacity to deliver other research. This could result in NIHR support being withdrawn and reallocated elsewhere to ensure the flow of research participation opportunities to patients is maintained.
Our Sponsor Engagement Tool helps us to work collaboratively with sponsors to keep your research on track.
Our Study Support Service
The support described here is part of the NIHR Study Support Service - a specific set of these tools and services to help you plan, place and deliver research. This helpful 10 step guide for our Study Support Service for the life sciences industry explains how to access the right support, at the right time.
Our Life Sciences Industry Learning Centre contains resources that will help you to understand and optimise support available via the NIHR Study Support Service. Log in to NIHR Learn with your existing Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS) details, or create a CPMS account.
More information
The support described here is just one of the ways we help life science organisations. Discover our full range of services:
Services and support for the life sciences industry
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Contact the Industry team
Fill out our contact form to request a chat with our team. We aim to reply as soon as possible and always within two business days.
For assistance relating to a specific site or study that is already underway, you can contact your local or lead site support team.