COVID-19
As the national institute for health data, find out how we are championing the use of health data to respond to COVID-19.
Our strategy in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is to mobilise talent and partnerships across the UK to:
- Co-ordinate and connect national data science driven research efforts related to COVID-19
- Accelerate access to UK-wide priority data relevant to COVID-19 for research
- Leverage the best of the UK’s health data science capability to address the wider impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting vulnerable groups that will be hardest hit
To ensure that the most promising research questions are supported, and to limit distraction of the NHS, we are using a process to prioritise research efforts and report these to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Find out more about our work to advise SAGE here and find the latest report below.
Patients tell us how COVID-19 has affected them and why research using health data is important
The patient voice is at the heart of everything we do. We spoke to patients who shared their personal experiences of COVID-19 and why they believe research using health data is important.

COVID-19 National Core Studies
The National Core Studies are using health data and research to inform our long-term response to COVID-19 and accelerating progress in establishing a world-leading health data and research infrastructure for the future. Read more about the studies and HDR UK’s role in the “Data and Connectivity” study.

Data and Connectivity
Data and Connectivity will bring together key assets of the UK data infrastructure by working in partnership with stakeholders from across the four nations to organise medical, biological and social science data on an unprecedented scale. Find out about our role in Data and Connectivity.

Discover datasets on the Gateway

Find tools on Github

Read latest COVID insights and SAGE reports

Collaborate via Slack

Apply for rapid funding call

Patient and public involvement

This initiative provides a co-ordinated international platform to enable researchers to access global data and thereby derive rapid insights about COVID-19 and speed up the development of treatments.