The tool – named the Dataset Summary Dashboard – is provided by the BHF Data Science Centre at HDR UK to give a topline overview of the more than 70 datasets available through its CVD-COVID-UK/COVID-IMPACT Consortium. 

The dashboard was created in partnership with NHS England, SAIL Databank and Public Health Scotland and allows people to explore what datasets are available, the time-period they cover, as well as their size and the types of data and information that they contain.  

The dashboard is available for anyone to use. This is because it contains only summary data that cannot be used to identify individuals. 

BHF Data Science Centre Director and Chief Scientist for Health Data Research UK, Professor Cathie Sudlow, said: “This dashboard was developed primarily for existing and future researchers using these key health datasets. It aims to maximise the potential benefits of research to patients and the public and reflects our commitment to open science and transparency. ” 

 The CVD-COVID-UK/COVID-IMPACT Consortium was set up to provide approved members with safe, secure and rapid access to datasets focused on COVID-19 and its impact on cardiovascular and other diseases. It exists to enable the UK-wide research community – beyond the BHF Data Science Centre team itself –to carry out data-led work at pace. 

 The inclusive Consortium now has more than 350 members from across the UK and currently supports more than 70 projects focused on understanding and tackling health conditions linked to COVID-19. Datasets accessed via the Consortium are not owned by the BHF Data Science Centre but are held safely and securely in Trusted Research Environments across England, Wales, and Scotland.  

 Currently, the turnaround time to access data via the Consortium is approximately one month. Approval to use these datasets is strictly regulated by the Consortium’s Approvals and Oversight Board, which includes patient and public contributors.  

 The dashboard was developed by Fionna Chalmers, Lars Murdock and Anna Stevenson of the Health Data Science team at the BHF Data Science Centre. Lars Murdock said: “We believe that this dashboard  will be helpful for researchers in planning their data science projects, and also provides information for anyone who wants to know more about the data that our partners use in their research.“ 

 Frequently Asked Questions

 How does this differ from the Health Data Research Innovation Gateway? 

This interactive dashboard complements the information available on the Gateway by providing a topline, exploratory overview of the data available in the BHF Data Science Centre’s CVD-COVID-UK/COVID-IMPACT collection.

You can see the collection on the Gateway here. The new dashboard covers only the CVD-COVID-UK/COVID-IMPACT Consortium-linked datasets and provides additional information of other dataset overviews that are available on the Gateway.  

Is the Dataset Summary Dashboard only available to Consortium members? 

No, it is available to anyone on the following link: https://bhf-dsc-hds.shinyapps.io/cvd-covid-tre-dashboard/. 

 How do I join the CVD-COVID-UK/COVID-IMPACT Consortium? 

If you’re interested in becoming a member of the consortium, please e-mail bhfdsc@hdruk.ac.uk. 

 How does the Consortium work?  

The Consortium’s ways of working can be found here.  

 Does my project have to have a BHF Data Science Centre Director or Associate Director involved to apply for membership or access to data? 

No. 

 How does the BHF Data Science Centre involve patients and the public in its work? 

See more about our PPIE commitment and activities here.