Background

The UK Clinical Research Inclusion Group has been convened following discussions at the meetings of UK Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) Programme Board (18/06/2025) and UKCRD Cross Sector Advisory Group (23/07/2025)

Purpose & Goal

To help deliver one of UKCRD’s programme aims: reducing inequalities through research inclusion towards a fairer Britain, and the UK Government’s ambition for the UK to lead the world in clinical trials. 

To facilitate cross-sector collaboration and co-ordination of activities across the UK four nations and clinical research sector supporting greater inclusivity and representativeness of participants in clinical research.

Core objectives

• Develop a high-level summary of existing key initiatives and systems to enhance greater inclusivity and representativeness of participants in clinical research
• Develop a UK-wide roadmap of key actions where we can collectively make stepwise improvements, with timelines and milestones, for recommendation as a UKCRD work programme
• Aligned to the decisions at the UKCRD programme board, develop steps for implementation of agreed roadmap actions and monitor progress
• Identify areas where there is a need for further alignment, co-ordination or visibility to support the goal and agree ways forward
• Improve visibility of other individual activities through regular information sharing and facilitate wider stakeholder awareness across the UK four nations and sectors

Scope

The Group will look at all existing and planned processes, support and infrastructure that could enable greater inclusivity and representativeness of participants in clinical research in developing the roadmap.

The outputs of the Group may be of relevance to other fields such as social care, public health, applied research, but its scope remains focused specifically on clinical research.

The Group is not intended to revisit policy or strategy decisions of partner organisation/s unless a need is identified and collectively agreed by the Group.

Governance

The group will report to the UKCRD Programme Board and seek advice from the UKCRD Cross Sector Advisory Group. It will provide information as appropriate to:

• Four Nations Policy Leads Group convened by the Health Research Authority
• Oversight boards, decision making or implementation groups of individual partners

Chair and membership

The group will be chaired by the Deputy Director of Policy and Partnerships, Health Research Authority.

The membership of the group will be drawn from the following key stakeholders.

• UK Clinical Research Inclusion Group membership
• The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)
• The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)
• Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government
• Department of Health and Social Care
• Health and Care Research Wales
• Health Research Authority
• Health and Social Care Northern Ireland
• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
• National Institute of Health and Care Research
• NHS England
• UKRD Leaders
• UK Clinical Research Collaboration Clinical Trial Unit Network
• UK Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) Network

Secretariat

The Group is supported by a secretariat from the Health Research Authority. 

Alternates

Alternates are acceptable by prior agreement. The member being substituted is responsible for ensuring the alternate is appropriately briefed and able to make decisions on behalf of their organisation.

Quorum

A quorum shall be half of members with at least one representative present from one of the devolved nations.

Changes in membership/ new membership

Any proposals for new members of the Group must be submitted to the co-chairs and secretariat. The proposal must be approved by the co-chairs and agreed by the Group to ensure the proposed member is able to support the objectives of the Group. 

Ways of working

The Group will meet for two hours every two months initially, via video conference.

The agenda and supporting papers will be sent out at least five working days before each meeting. Meeting notes with decisions and actions will be shared with the chairs and then the group within two weeks following the meeting.

The Group will take a UK- and sector-wide view in all discussions and will review the process collaboratively across the partners.

The group will normally operate on a consensus basis and involve all members of the group, however where a consensus cannot be reached the chair may take a decision on the way forward to facilitate the ongoing operation of the group.

Updates to the Terms of Reference

Updates to the Terms of Reference must be agreed by the chair and circulated to the Group for agreement.