The aim of the pilot Network is to demonstrate the potential of the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM) as an enabler of efficient cross-nation research studies.

Following a funding call earlier this year, Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) has established a pilot Real-World Evidence Network co-ordination centre that will be led by Daniel Prieto-Alhambra and his team at the University of Oxford, working in partnership with HDR UK.

The aim of this pilot Network is to demonstrate the potential of the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM) as an enabler of efficient cross-nation federated research studies, utilising health data from multiple sources. The centre is currently funded for 12 months (June 2024-June 2025) and will serve as a proof of concept for a sustainable UK real-world evidence network. Studies should be completed by the end of the project. It is hoped that the network will become sustainable, enabling it to operate beyond the initial year.

The next stage is to recruit up to seven health care Data Partners from different parts of the UK through this Data Partner funding call.

The Data Partners will:

  • Have access to UK-based existing Real-World Data in the OMOP-CDM versions 5.3 or 5.4 that they can analyse to use in studies which will generate Real World Evidence through federated analytics (i.e., the data remain in situ).
  • Be able and willing to characterise their data sets by running study code and return aggregated results to the network coordinators.
  • Be able and willing to include metadata and aggregated data based on the data sets they have access to in a catalogue of data sources via the Health Data Research Innovation Gateway.
  • Be able and willing to execute federated data analyses to address specific research questions (use cases) by participating in high-quality studies coordinated by the Network. This would include having or obtaining governance or ethics approvals, running analytical code provided by the network team, returning aggregated results, and supporting the publication and dissemination of research outputs including peer-reviewed papers.

The coordinating centre will support the Data Partners in these activities, for example by providing executable code, leading the selection and coordination of the proposed use cases, and addressing technical challenges that may arise during the project.

HDR UK will fund each Data Partner by issuing grant awards and making payments of actual costs incurred for delivery of milestones reflecting onboarding and data characterisation, and participation in research studies. This includes a payment of up to £10,000 for successful onboarding to the network, and up to £20,000 for each completed study that a data partner participates in.

Please submit all enquiries and clarifications to UKAlliance@hdruk.ac.uk and procurement@hdruk.ac.uk. The final date for queries will be 16th August 2024.

Further information about this opportunity

For details of the call and to submit your application, please download:

How to apply

Please provide the following documents in your application:

  • Completed application form
  • Milestone 1 Costing spreadsheet (using excel template provided)
  • CVs for Lead applicant and any key team members (max one page per applicant)
  • Any supplementary documents (see application form for details)

If possible, applicants should run feasibility code against their data sets. The resulting CSV file should be submitted along with their application form. See Section 3 of the application form for details.

The deadline for applications is 12:00 BST on 10th September 2024.

Please submit applications to UKAlliance@hdruk.ac.uk and copy to procurement@hdruk.ac.uk