Members of the ELIXIR-UK Node have been successful in an open call for proposals to inform the design of a wider network of UK-based Trusted Research Environments (TREs).
Currently, across the UK, TREs follow different sets of standards and processes, which makes it difficult for analysis to be conducted on multiple datasets held across different environments. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) awarded £2 million to be split amongst a series of Driver Projects that are part of the DARE UK (Data and Analytics Research Environments UK) programme. These Projects will work towards the goal of a wider network of UK-based TREs.
With Carole Goble (University of Manchester) as principal investigator and ELIXIR-UK members from the University of Nottingham (led by Phil Quinlan) and the University of Dundee (led by Chris Cole), TRE-FX will demonstrate how we can use secure research objects to move between TREs whilst constantly supporting the Five Safes principles that govern and protect sensitive data. The technology to provide this wider network of connected TREs is already available, and the combination of leading technology providers from ELIXIR-UK and Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), three TRE providers and two leading analysis platforms will ensure this is following best practices and at the forefront of research.
This work will improve the security and ease of researchers analysing data across locations, and it will allow data providers to safely implement the already available technology and standards.
The Projects run from February to October 2023, with outputs available publicly afterwards.
On Wednesday, 8 March, 12:00 – 13:00 GMT, a webinar will introduce the five Driver Projects, and we’ll hear directly from each of the research teams. It is free and open to all, register to attend here.
Project partners: University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of Dundee, University of Swansea, University of Birmingham, Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), University of Liverpool, Bitfount, Birmingham University Hospitals NHS Trust