Renewal of Ethical Approval for NILS Database (2022)
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
311821
Contact name
Deborah Lyness
Contact email
Research summary
The Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS)
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
22/NI/0042
Date of REC Opinion
7 Apr 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
Data taken from Health Card registrations, Census returns, birth registrations, death registrations and marriage registrations is securely collected, stored and linked to the NILS. This data is held in a secure environment. Identifiable data can only be viewed by NISRA staff, and solely for the purpose of linking individual records.
This data is then used to create a pseudonymised research database, with no personal identifiable data. Project specific pseudonymised datasets containing high-level aggregated data are extracted from this research database for research projects which have been approved by the NILS Research Approvals Group, which uses a set of criteria to determine whether a project may be approved.
Researchers working on approved projects are only permitted to access their project datasets in a secure environment where they are supervised at all times. The data is used to produce statistical outputs and models in furtherance of health-related research. Paramount importance is placed on confidentiality and data protection at all times.Research programme
The NILS serves as a valuable resource for researchers from both academia and government. The NILS has been used by researchers from Northern Ireland (QUB, UU), universities across the UK as well as the US and continental EU. Academic users by discipline have included Geographers, Public Health researchers, Economists and Psychologists. Projects have been undertaken by experienced researchers but also by PhD, Masters and Undergraduate students. NILS has also collaborated with colleagues from equivalent longitudinal studies in England, Wales and Scotland to facilitate UK-wide research. The valuable support provided to researchers by the NILS-RSU, and its program of outreach and promotion of the NILS, has further strengthened the partnership between NISRA and the Northern Ireland academic community. More information on NILS Research is available on the NILS-RSU website: https://www.nils-rsu.co.uk/research/.
Research database title
The Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS)
Establishment organisation
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
Establishment organisation address
Colby House
Stranmillis Court
Belfast
BT9 5RR