Prof. Jonathan Sterne on:
“Whole-population analytics and causal inference using the English secure data environments”
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) provides most UK health care. However, research based on linked NHS electronic health records (EHR) for the population of England has not been possible. This situation changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to rapid development of “secure data environments” (SDEs) that permit analyses on linked EHR data on up to 58 million people while incorporating novel and stringent approaches to protect patient privacy and avoid disclosure of confidential information. I will describe the English SDEs, focussing on OpenSAFELY (www.opensafely.org). I will summarise results of research on effects of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines that was conducted by collaborative teams from the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. I will summarise next steps in making these environments available for non-COVID research.
Monday, 19 January 2026, 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm
Venue: Cinema Wengen