The Health Research Authority (HRA) is a UK organisation focused on protecting and promoting the interests of patients and the public in health research. It supports the planning and improvement of research and helps researchers understand the approvals and decisions required before a project can proceed. Its website provides guidance on HRA Approval, research ethics review, and making changes to projects after approval, as well as a directory for finding Research Ethics Committees.

The HRA also offers practical resources to help applicants prepare submissions, including application tips and templates for explaining how personal data is used. To support transparency, it publishes information about approved research projects and decisions made by Research Ethics Committees and the Confidentiality Advisory Group. The authority provides learning resources, updates on policies and regulations, and information about its committees, services, consultations, and partnerships. It also invites members of the public to volunteer for Research Ethics Committees. Through these services and resources, the HRA helps researchers navigate review requirements while keeping public interests central to health research.