Our newest members include two ground-breaking institutes, two investments from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), a large and diverse cohort study and three NHS Foundation Trusts. 

We look forward to our new members helping us to build on the successes of last year as we continue to work towards accelerating improvements in biomedicine, health and care by encouraging widespread and responsible use of health-relevant data in a trustworthy, ethical way for research and innovation.  

About our new members 

  • The Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science, based in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, builds innovative national data infrastructure projects including OpenSAFELY.org for whole population GP data analysis, and OpenPrescribing.net.
  • The Institute of Cancer Research has been carrying research into the causes of cancer, and how it might be treated or prevented, for more than 100 years.  It works in close partnership with the Royal Marsden providing a unique ‘bench-to-bedside’ approach and together the two organisations are rated as one of the top centres for cancer research and treatment in the world.
  • NIHR Innovation Observatory hosted at Newcastle University, is a world leading health and care innovation scanning centre, providing data-driven insights to foster innovation and equitable access to high-quality care.
  • NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Northwest London (NIHR ARC NWL) is hosted by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The goal of the NIHR ARC NWL is to build sustainable infrastructure for a continual improvement in health behaviours and population health, and a reduction in health inequalities for the people of Northwest London.
  • Genes & Health is the world’s largest community-based genetics study, working to improve health for British Pakistani and Bangladeshi people. By linking genetic data with health records from 100,000 volunteers, the study helps researchers understand diseases and develop better treatments.
  • North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) provides a wide range of mental health specialist services across the London Boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington. Most services are based in the community, but the Trust also provide inpatient mental health services in hospitals. 
  • Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust offers a wide range of specialist and general hospital services at their two main hospital sites, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital. The Trust also provide community care for a range of services, including their award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics across London.
  • Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) are one of the largest mental health and disability trusts in England. They provide a range of mental health, learning disability and neurological care services across the north of England. 

These eight organisations join 110 existing Alliance members who work together to develop common standards, best practices and tools to accelerate trustworthy access and use of health-related data for research and innovation. 

In the last year, interest in the UK Health Data Research Alliance has seen its membership grow by 25% with continued enthusiasm for the initiative.  

Dr. Stuart Rison, Head of Data at Genes & Health, said:

“Genes & Health is delighted to be a member of the UK Health Data Research Alliance.  We are committed to its ambitions of facilitating ethical and responsible storage and use of data, broadening data diversity, data interoperability and sharing, and using health data in practice to deliver actionable research targeted at improving outcomes for UK citizens and beyond: Good data, Good research, Good findings for all.”

By combining expertise and a shared commitment to work collaboratively, the Alliance will help researchers to tackle some of the most complex questions and address the most pressing health challenges faced in the UK, through better access to health data. 

Research based on data that reflects diversity of culture, healthcare conditions and aspects such as race, ethnicity, gender and age improves the ability to generalise results and enables new discoveries and understanding about disease. In turn this provides fairer and more equal access to the latest treatments and medical technologies, benefiting as many people across the UK as possible. 

Interested in getting involved?

UK health organisations are encouraged to contact the team to discuss joining the Alliance.

Email ukalliance@hdruk.ac.uk for more information.