MRC Enhancing Biomedical and Health Related Data and Digital Platform Resources

Funding for data and digital platform resources that will support, manage, link, share and access data at scale for biomedical, health and care research within remit of MRC, or NIHR or both.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) are providing funding for projects that will support, manage, link, share and access data at scale for use in cutting edge data science intensive research. Applications must focus on data infrastructures (DRI), services, tools or other resources needed to support biomedical science, health, and care research within the remit of MRC, NIHR or both.

Outputs should be outward facing and create a stimulating environment for all participants, from those delivering a harmonised and seamless data infrastructure ecosystem to those who will utilise this ecosystem to advance UK life sciences, health and care research and innovation. Applicants should harness the best talent in the UK to deliver upon their proposed vision.

Activities that can be covered through this opportunity include:

• Support for the development of essential services and capabilities required by users to enable them to work seamlessly and with minimal additional effort within and across DRIs, for example, mechanisms of data ingress or export.
• Mechanisms to manage data and ensure that it is findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable (FAIR).
• Developing and providing next generation software and tools for analytics to enable secure and transparent use of data.
• Support for the skilled operational and development staff needed to deliver excellent services for life sciences, health and care researchers.
• Support for unique linkage of health and health related datasets (including, but not limited to, research generated data, environmental, administrative, and wearable data).
• Other support needed to enhance databases, platforms, environments and their operations.

Projects should aim to:

• Build upon and add value to current UK DRI investments (such as but not limited to DARE UK, the NHS Data for R&D Programme including investment in the NHS Research Secure Data Environment Network, and HDR UK Health Data Gateway etc).
• Fit into the wider UK landscape as well as contribute to a greater cohesion and connectivity within and across UK DRI.
• Contribute to building data and digital capacity across regions and institutions, beyond the home institutions of the award.
• Add value without being duplicative or increasing complexity for users seeking to work within and across DRIs.
  
• Ensure that the development of the proposed solutions incorporates plans for dissemination, adoption, integration and sustainability across the UK and internationally.

The duration of this award is up to five years.