HSGD Research Database
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
339281
Contact name
Marta Boffito
Contact email
Research summary
HIV, Sexual and Gender Health, Dermatology Directorate Research Database
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/EM/0003
Date of REC Opinion
9 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
This research database encompasses all data that are generated at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (CWFT) as part of routine clinical care delivered by the Directorate of HIV, Sexual-health, Gender-health and Dermatology (HSGD).
CWFT uses Cerner Millennium with several linked electronic patient record (EPR) systems which together hold around 37 years of detailed information including demographics, investigations, results, diagnoses, procedures and medications.
Registration and management as a research database extends the use of this rich clinical dataset from routine care to enable locally led and approved research projects that aim to improve patient care. Data is by nature patient identifiable and includes sensitive data. For access by researchers outside the direct care team the data will be fully de-identified before it is made available.
There is no creation of a new actual database for research purpose; the existing clinical data held by CWFT is made available following formal application to and approval by the HSGD Research Committee, which acts as the data access committee for this dataset.
Research programme
The HIV, Sexual-health, Gender-health and Dermatology (HSGD) Directorate at CWFT has a long history as an international leader in clinical academic research in their field routinely investigating questions of relevance to the health and experiences of HSGD patients, carers and service users. This includes ‘Real World Evidence’ and ‘Big Data' research questions that can only be answered by forming linkages across datasets of large populations. Registering the clinical dataset as a Research Database and managing research access via a local data access committee will facilitate the rapid access and approval for HSGD researchers (researchers holding a substantive or honorary contract of employment with the Trust) to undertake research using existing data from patients accessing HSGD healthcare at CWHFT. This will streamline the approval process and reduce the set-up time for real world evidence research by local researchers on the local dataset as the need for individual REC approvals for each study will be replaced by approval and governance via the HSGD research committee prior to commencement. This is expected to enable more local research.
Research database title
HIV, Sexual and Gender Health, Dermatology Directorate Research Database
Establishment organisation
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Establishment organisation address
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH