Training

Staff and students involved in clinical research have to complete a number of training courses.

Good Clinical Practice (GCP)

Good Clinical Practice is the international ethical, scientific and practical standard to which all clinical research is conducted.

GCP training is a requirement set out in the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research developed by the Health Research Authority for researchers conducting clinical trials of investigational medicinal products (CTIMPs).

The National Institute for Health Reaecrh (NIHR) offers a range of GCP courses and training aids that are free and available to UK universities conducting and supporting clinical research. You can access GCP courses via the NIHR learning platform NIHR Learn.

For more information, visit the NIHR training pages.

Data Protection

In order to use personal data, the University must comply with all relevant UK data protection legislation covered by the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).

All University staff members must have up-to-date GDPR training which has to be refreshed every three years. The obligatory GDPR and Information Security Essentials training module is accessible through Canvas (staff only). Colleagues who have honorary Trust contracts and have taken Trust-specific GDPR training can use this as evidence of having fulfilled their obligatory GDPR training requirements.

More information on Data Protection guidance can be found on the University's Legal webpages.

Human Material

We are licensed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) for the storage of human material for research purposes, and are obliged to follow the legislation that is defined in the Human Tissue Act (2004) and associated regulations. This law ensures that human tissue is used safely and ethically, with proper consent. The HTA ensures that the Human Tissue Act is followed by setting standards that are clear and reasonable, and in which the public and professionals can have confidence. They provide codes of practice to help us understand these requirements.

Anyone that works with human material for research purposes has to show that they have been appropriately trained. Information on training sessions and training material can be found on the human material intranet (staff only).

University Human Material HTA training sessions

This training session is aimed at members of staff and students currently working with human material within the University of Liverpool. Please note human material training must be repeated every three years.

This session will be help at various points through the year so please book the best date for you using the Eventbrite links provided below.

11th January 2024 13:00 - 14:00

27th February 2024 10:30 - 11:30

9th May 2024 10:00 - 11:00

These will be overview/refresher sessions but if you have any particular questions or queries please get in touch anytime by emailing humanmat@liverpool.ac.uk or booking onto one of the Clinical Governance Drop in sessions.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Clinical Trial training for Investigators

This course is aimed at health and research professionals, particularly those aiming to become Chief Investigators.

Course dates: 18th - 22nd September 2023
Course fee: £475, includes  course materials, lunch and refreshments
CPD accredited: 30 points awarded for full week attendance
Individual day attendance available: Charged at £95 per day

The number of clinical trials being conducted has increased, and the need for greater efficiency in design, conduct, analysis and reporting has been recognised in both the public and industry sector.
The programme will include:

  • Trial design
  • Trial conduct
  • Recruitment of trial participants
  • Public and patient involvement
  • Analysis and reporting
  • Health informatics
  • Health economics.

To apply for this course please click here.

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