Study Design
Healthspan Connect is Programme of Research running under the current Health Research Authority pilot scheme. The programme has been granted ethical approval, with any studies coming under the programme added by substantial amendment.
Governance
The Healthspan Connect Governance and Resource Access Management (HC-GRAM) Committee is responsible for overseeing management, data sharing, collaborations and study approvals.
In addition to meeting to discuss data and specimen access and sharing, the HC-GRAM committee will have oversight to approve new sub-studies that fall within the remit and current ethical approvals for specimen and data collection for Healthspan Connect.
This committee will comprise senior staff members and will be chaired by the Chief Investigator for Healthspan Connect, Professor Claire Steves.
Voluntary Advisory Panel (VAP)
A VAP is established to take the opinions and views of our volunteers on board during the development and running of research programmes for Healthspan Connect.
Membership is for a defined period, typically three years. The panel is representative of the Healthspan Connect participants.
Research proposals for new studies are presented, where relevant, to the VAP for feedback and approval. The views are used to inform and refine study protocols and are summarised as a consultation which is available for audit.