In recent months, scientific advisors and key funders have identified where the UK must increase research to respond to near term strategic, policy and operational needs, and ultimately improve resilience against COVID-19 through 2021 and beyond. Six COVID-19 National Core Studies (NCS) have been established to meet these needs.

The Data and Connectivity NCS, led jointly by Health Data Research UK and Office of National Statistics, is bringing together key data assets, research infrastructures and organisations from across Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland, and making it available to researchers for analysis, ethically and safely, to accelerate COVID-19 research. The Data & Connectivity NCS commenced on 5 October 2020 and has so far made 32 datasets available through national Trusted Research Environments.

In partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Data & Connectivity programme opened a rapid funding call for already-funded UKRI COVID-19 Open Call and UKRI/NIHR Rapid Response Initiative research to use and enrich the data within the Data & Connectivity NCS capability.

Eligible applicants were able to apply for additional funding to use the datasets to increase of the impact of funded studies, and leave a legacy of enhancing the value of the Data & Connectivity NCS data asset for others to use e.g. by creating additional linkages, improving data, creating legacy resources (open datasets, code or tools). All research is guided by the NCS data sharing principles.

The call for applications closed at 12 noon on 7 December 2020.

 

Please regularly check for the latest updated clarifications log here: Update 1 26/11/2020