Our shared goal is to make it faster and easier for approved researchers to securely access NHS data, enabling impactful discoveries. A key milestone to achieving this is the adoption of Health Data Research Gateway (the Gateway) by the NHS Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) Network, creating a streamlined entry point for researchers while maintaining data access standards and public transparency.

Data is critical for the NHS to improve lives

NHS England’s Data for Research and Development (Data for R&D) Programme is driving secure, transparent and ethical use of NHS health data to improve patient care and save lives. The programme is enabling transformative research to improve patient outcomes and driving a major shift from data sharing to a data access model, increasing data security, privacy, and transparency.

The NHS Research SDE Network is part of the Data for R&D Programme and is providing health data users with faster and more secure access to different types of NHS data for research. Covering the whole of England, including one national SDE and 11 regional SDEs, the SDE Network is designed to provide approved researchers with faster and more secure access to NHS data.

A single front door to NHS data in England

The SDE Network will become the primary route for accessing NHS data for research, with the adoption of the Gateway providing a common entry point for researchers, enabling them to easily search, explore, and identify the data they need before submitting access requests. Together we are making NHS data for approved research purposes more discoverable to accelerate scientific discovery for public benefit.

A partnership in progress

In a series of short conversations, Rebecca Cosgriff, Deputy Director for the Data for R&D Programme, met with Emily Jefferson, CTO at HDR UK, and David Seymour, Director of Data Partnerships at HDR UK, to explore the past, present, and future of this transformative partnership. Watch the video series below to discover how we’re working together to unlock the potential of the UK’s health data for the benefit of patients and society!

Video series: Our partnership with NHS England's Data for R&D Programme

From smarter search to faster access: A deep dive into the enhanced Gateway

We recently introduced a major new version of the Health Data Research Gateway with significant enhancements designed to empower the research community and accelerate scientific discovery for public benefit.

Discover what’s new and how it can help your journey to impactful research.