Research database for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS FT (CPFT)
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
236644
Contact name
Rudolf Cardinal
Contact email
Research summary
CPFT Research Database
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0442
Date of REC Opinion
23 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
Information from CPFT NHS clinical records will be fed automatically, via a system to remove all information that might identify an individual, into an anonymised research database.
The database will be available to approved researchers within CPFT and its partner research organizations for population-based (epidemiological) research - for example, looking for links between things like family history and particular illnesses. For this kind of research, the researchers won't know who any patient is, so patients will not be approached for their permission - though they can opt out if they wish.
For ethically approved research projects involving patients, researchers can search the database to find anonymised patients who might fit their study's criteria. They can ask CPFT if the patients are interested in receiving information about their study. Patients can choose an "approach mode": one of "GREEN" (allow approved researchers to view my clinical records and write to me directly about projects that may be relevant to me), "YELLOW" (ask me via my clinical team about each study), or "RED" (don't contact me about such research projects).Patients may withdraw consent at any time. Decisions about taking part in research will never affect the standard of care received.
Research programme
The database will help CPFT fulfil NHS Constitution pledges to “anonymise the information collected during the course of your treatment and use it to support research and improve care for others” and “inform you of research studies in which you may be eligible to participate”. (1) It will support epidemiological research in mental health and community care within CPFT and its partner research organizations in Cambridge University Health Partners (CUHP), a UK Academic Health Science Centre. This type of research includes looking at the causes and consequences of diseases, response to treatment, etc., using anonymised information from many patients. (2) CUHP conducts world-class research in neuroscience/mental health, including basic research (examining causes and mechanisms of complex illnesses) and clinical trials (e.g. testing how well different treatments work). The Database will improve opportunities for patients to participate in research, and improve access to patients for CUHP researchers, thus improving the research that patients support. (3) There may be direct clinical benefits: the database enables better NHS audit/service development, and allows clinicians to find information in large quantities of text (e.g. finding which of their patients are on a certain medication, if that information is not stored in a structured way).
Research database title
CPFT Research Database
Establishment organisation
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Establishment organisation address
Elizabeth House
Fulbourn Hospital, Fulbourn
Cambridge
CB21 5EF