Cambridge Clinical Informatics eHospital Database
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
166089
Contact name
Lydia Drumright
Contact email
Research summary
Cambridge Clinical Informatics eHospital Database and Clinical Informatics Protocols
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0281
Date of REC Opinion
9 May 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
Hospital investigations result in the collection of a wide range of health data. With our electronic medical record system, we can now establish automated protocols to anonymise these data, such that the identity of the patient can be removed. This means that these data could be used in research to develop a further understanding of human health conditions. Conducting research in this manner would mean that scientists could discover more about conditions at a lower cost and patients would not be subjected to any further investigations.\n\nSuch studies will involve 1) scientists from the CUHFT and the University of Cambridge applying for use of clinical data to the research data governance committee, 2) approval by the committee for access to the dataset, and 3) anonymisation and transfer of clinical data to a secure data location for analysis.\n\nAs all data will be handled anonymously, and anonymous access will be allowed on a study by study basis, it would be impractical to consent all patients. All CUHFT patients can opt out of their data being used for audit and research. We are very active in engagement and involvement of the community in our work and have received positive feedback on this so far. We will continue to update the community and receive guidance from the community how to conduct such research.
Research programme
This use of anonymous clinical data will support the entire CUHFT and University of Cambridge biomedical research community. It will enable researchers to conduct a range of study types more rapidly and at a lower cost, which will in turn result in a greater potential for discoveries that will advance medical care for the CUHFT patients and possibly patients around the world. \n\nFor example, data are likely to be used to identify risk factors for ill health conditions, and establish response profiles to treatments and medications based on characteristics of individual patients. Additionally, this will allow us to develop sophisticate algorithms for data processing and personalisation of medical care for individual patients. \n
Research database title
Cambridge Clinical Informatics eHospital Database and Clinical Informatics Protocols
Establishment organisation address
Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge Biomedical campus
Box 277 (level 4 S block)
Hills road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ