In the 18 months since their launch, the UK's Health Data Research Hubs have shown that data can make a difference to patients' lives. They have just passed an official assessment by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), demonstrating their ability to combine industry collaboration and public involvement with targeted research to produce an agile response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here at INSIGHT, we have been able to show the impact of the pandemic on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). By analysing existing clinical trial data from our industry partner, Roche-Genentech, and combining it with data from University Hospitals Birmingham and Moorfields, we have been able to provide reliable estimates of the impact on patients' vision resulting from delays to treatment in those newly diagnosed with wet AMD.
Alastair Denniston, Director of the INSIGHT Health Data Research Hub for Eye Health, said:
“I am particularly proud of the way INSIGHT has been able to adapt our unique cross-sector partnership to respond to the some of the challenges posed by COVID-19 to eye care in the NHS. By combining the expertise of our industry partner, Roche-Genentech, with unrivalled sets of anonymised patient data from INSIGHT, we’ve been able to predict the impact of the pandemic on patients with wet AMD. This kind of information is critical in helping us to optimise the NHS to optimise patient care as services begin to return to normal across the country.”
Find out more on the Health Data Research UK website:
Read about the second milestone attained by all seven health data research hubs: https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/news/seven-health-science-hubs-provide-a-model-for-transforming-the-health-data-landscape/
Discover how innovative public involvement enhances data research, including INSIGHT's Data Trust Advisory Board and our work with Sense About Science: https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/case-studies/innovative-public-involvement-enhances-data-research/
Find out how the hubs have been improving their datasets to enhance research potential, including INSIGHT's latest research into wet-AMD: https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/case-studies/improving-hub-health-datasets-to-enhance-research-potential/
Read a case study on industry collaboration, including our partnership with Roche: https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/case-studies/boosting-health-innovation-through-industry-partnerships/