The highlights for this update include:  

  • INSIGHTS in our latest report to SAGE
  • EXPLORE our updated Data and Connectivity webpages
  • ATTEND our virtual Open Door Session
  • DISCOVER COVID-19 data and tools on the HDR Innovation Gateway

 INSIGHTS: Our latest report to SAGE

This week we published the latest research insights and data access updates in our regular report that we share with SAGE (the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), UK Research and Innovation and the wider science community.  

The highlights for this report include the following research, all of which demonstrate the benefits and insights that can be gained from using linked health data at scale:  

Research combining surveillance data from the UK Zoe COVID Symptom Study and the UK UMD-Facebook COVID-19 Symptom Survey found 25% of individuals with symptoms do not get tested; improved public health messaging around symptoms and test sites may address this gap.

Find out more

New findings from Public Health England’s routine testing of NHS Blood and Transplant blood donations show that 70-84 year olds are mounting a good immune response to a single vaccine dose; 75.8% of older adults had COVID-19 antibodies and only 5.6% were from natural infection.

Find out more 

Analyses of linked patient-level data for >17 million people in England indicate that people with learning disabilities are more likely to be hospitalised and die from COVID19.  This highlights the importance of updating learning disability registers and reinforce the UK’s recent policy change to prioritise all people with learning disabilities for vaccination.

Find out more

Travel restrictions are effective in reducing onwards transmission of COVID-19 analyses of NHS Test and Trace data alongside genomic data from the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium have revealed.

Find out more 

This week’s patient and public voice feedback:

As always, our reports on COVID-19 research and data are reviewed by our patient and public advisors.

Find out more 

EXPLORE: Updated Data and Connectivity Webpages 

The Data and Connectivity webpages have been updated and refreshed to improve the user experience. To find out more about Data and Connectivity, to read monthly progress reports, find out how we’re involving patient and learn about the latest projects, please visit our updated webpages.  

ATTEND: Our virtual Open Door Session

We are holding an Open Door Session for members of the public to be part of an open discussion about the Data and Connectivity programme, and have any questions answered. 

Come along and hear from Andrew Morris (Director, HDR UK), Lara Edwards (Senior Programme Manager, HDR UK), Judy Slape (Public Engagement and Involvement Officer, HDR UK), and Margaret Rogers (Lay Member, Data and Connectivity). 

The session will cover: 

  • An overview of the Data and Connectivity programme and the National Core Studies. 
  • Updates on our key achievements and progress to date.
  • The importance and impact of patient and public engagement and involvement (PPIE) and how we have ensured to embed PPIE throughout.
  • There will be time for questions and discussion throughout. 

Register here 

DISCOVER: COVID-19 data on the HDR Innovation Gateway

There are now over 600 datasets listed and available to request access through this platform. These include 6 dedicated collections (54 datasets) for the National Core Studies into COVID-19, openly available to discover and request access.