The University of Liverpool’s Sponsor Office has reached an exciting milestone, having recently reviewed its 2,000th application for sponsorship. This achievement reflects more than two decades of work supporting high-quality clinical research across the university.
Sponsorship is a legal requirement for all health and social care research involving NHS patients, their data or tissue, NHS staff, or NHS facilities. Established in 2004, the sponsorship portfolio has grown significantly in both volume and complexity. What began as a small, developing service has evolved into a highly structured, collaborative support system underpinning some of the university’s most impactful research.
Today, the team works closely with departments across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences to ensure that all university-led clinical research is designed, conducted and delivered to the highest standards. Their work ensures that every study has the appropriate arrangements in place to initiate, manage, monitor and finance research responsibly.
The team continues to support a large and varied research portfolio, with 435 active studies at different stages of development, from early sponsorship approval through to recruitment, follow-up and close-out. The portfolio continues to expand, with an average of seven new sponsorship applications submitted each month, reflecting the sustained growth of clinical research across the university.
Dr Neil French, Head of Clinical Operations and Compliance, said: "This milestone reflects the dedication of everyone involved. Behind those 2,000 applications are countless hours of expert support and a real commitment to delivering safe, ethical and impactful research."
You can find out more about sponsorship here.