HEPI policy note highlights UKRIO’s AI guidance

We welcome the publication of Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and Taylor & Francis’s new report, Using Artificial Intelligence to Advance Translational Research, and are pleased to see UKRIO’s guidance, Embracing AI with integrity, reflected in its central recommendations. 

The report addresses a critical question for the research system: how AI can support the translation of research into practical, real-world applications without diluting or compromising research integrity? By bringing together leaders from higher education, research and AI product development, HEPI and Taylor & Francis move the discussion beyond the hype surrounding AI’s potential and pitfalls to focus on how it can enable the effective and ethical translation of discovery-based research for public benefit. 

Crucially, HEPI’s recommendations recognise that responsible AI use requires collaboration across disciplines, industries and regions. The report calls on funders, research institutions, and publishers to set clear expectations for the responsible use of AI, including alignment with shared guidance such as Embracing AI with integrity, and to address the associated risks through coordinated, system-wide approaches. This emphasis on shared responsibility sits squarely with UKRIO’s own position. 

UKRIO was pleased to contribute to the development of the report through our Senior Programmes Manager, Dr Josephine Woodhams, who participated in the roundtable discussion that informed it. These exchanges reinforced the importance of cross-sector dialogue in shaping AI governance that works across disciplines and research settings. 

AI and research integrity is a top priority for UKRIO this year. We already offer training on AI for researchers through our Introduction to research integrity online course for subscribers, and we plan to expand access to AI-focused training over the coming months, including through a train-the-trainer model. 

We welcome this report’s recommendations as an important step towards enabling AI to enhance research impact and translational outcomes, while safeguarding research integrity and public trust. 

Media enquiries: 
Jasper Scott 
Communications and Engagement Manager,
UK Research Integrity Office 
jasper.scott@ukrio.org