TRE application process
An outline of the procedures involved in applying to use the TRE.
Application process
To ensure your NHS data is secure, Information Governance (IG) procedures can involve many approvals. Our TRE projects have different IG procedures. They depend on if it is research, non-consented or consented (NHS) data and which organisations are involved.
A good first step is to decide if your project is classified as research, this MRC decision tool may help. TASC organises NHS sponsorship, Caldicott, and other approvals. Research Data Scotland (RDS) organises the Health and Social Care/Statistics Public Benefit and Privacy Panel (PBPP).
HIC needs evidence of all approval letters. They also need project documentation, including the protocol, proof of passing the required IG training, and a signed TRE User Agreement. Note that for developing a project, no approvals are required to provide aggregate data (e.g., number of patients with a disease).
Costs
As part of the University of Dundee, we are a Scottish Registered Charity (SCO15096), and we do not own or sell data. We operate on a cost-recovery basis and cost for our team’s time and services provisioned (TRE compute and storage). We cost TRE users depending on their academic, clinical or commercial circumstances.
TRE costs cover:
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Project discovery: Project initiation meetings will help us understand your requirements. Although we may not be collaborators, we will assist in developing the best possible project. We will help clarify the research problem, discuss the available datasets and linkage opportunities. We can provide aggregates for feasibility and offer our expertise.
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Information Governance: We can help you navigate applications and advise on approvals.
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Infrastructure: The ‘elastic’ nature of cloud computing allows us to be flexible to your needs. We will discuss your requirements regarding compute, storage and software (and licensing), to provide a quotation. Monthly TRE overheads will be included for the duration of your project.
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Data: As an approved user working in our TRE, your data extract will have been curated by the Data team. They quality check, securely store and link data, and extracts are research ready.
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Disclosure control: All TRE outputs generated can be requested out. These can be draft or final summary results, reports or graphs. Our team will review in line with disclosure control.