A new cross-industry report has made recommendations about how to construct a health data infrastructure that will allow the life science sector to flourish.
To unlock the true potential of NHS data to improve population health, transform patient care and stimulate economic growth, England’s health data infrastructure should be designed to meet the needs of academic and industry researchers.
Developed by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), and the BioIndustry Association (BIA), the new cross-industry report highlights the role that NHS data and the underpinning infrastructure play in supporting vital research – alongside the factors holding back its full potential for the life sciences sector.
“To achieve the government’s ambition for growth and for the UK to become a world leader in AI, it is essential that we design a health data infrastructure that will enable small and large companies across the life science sector to flourish,” said Janet Valentine, ABPI executive director of innovation and research policy.
Secure, trustworthy and streamlined
The report recommends that the regional Secure Data Environment (SDE) network must prioritise high-value datasets and services for discovery science, AI development, precision medicine and local health improvement research.
It must differentiate between the types of research best supported by the regional SDEs, and those best held through existing central resources, such as the Clinical Practice research Datalink (CPRD). And at the same time provide a unified, integrated service, with a single point of entry, to streamline user experience and reduce duplication of effort.
Governance, contracts, and pricing for data access should be standardised and an external advisory group should be set up to ensure industry and other key users are at the heart of strategic decision-making about the regional SDE network.
“By making NHS data accessible in a secure, trustworthy, streamlined manner the Secure Data Environments are a key building block for innovation, trust, and patient safety,” said ABHI executive director Andrew Davies.
