Scottish Airways Research Network
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
358976
Contact name
Rory Chan
Contact email
Research summary
Creation and maintenance of the Scottish Airways Research Network
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
25/WS/0186
Date of REC Opinion
16 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
This project will create the Scottish Airways Research Network (SARN), a secure national database that collects information from adults with asthma receiving specialist care in Scotland. Asthma affects many people in Scotland, and some patients have more severe disease that can seriously impact their health and quality of life. By bringing together information from hospitals across Scotland, this project will help improve understanding of asthma and how best to treat it.
People will be invited to take part during routine clinic visits. Only patients who choose to take part and give written consent will be included. Information collected will come from standard clinic tests and records, such as breathing tests, blood results, medicines, asthma symptoms, and hospital visits. No extra medical procedures will be carried out for this study.
All information will be stored securely and will not include names or other details that directly identify patients. Only authorised staff will be able to access the data, and all personal information will be protected according to NHS and university rules. Participants can withdraw at any time without affecting their care.
Research programme
The SARN database will support research aimed at improving care for people with asthma in Scotland. By collecting real-world information from thousands of patients, researchers and clinicians will be able to understand asthma better, including why some people have more frequent symptoms or flare-ups, how patients respond to different treatments, and how access to specialist care varies across Scotland. This will help doctors tailor treatment more effectively and identify those who may benefit most from new therapies, including biologic medicines. The database will also help researchers study long-term asthma outcomes and develop tools to predict which patients are at risk of worsening asthma. Information from this project will help guide improvements in NHS services, strengthen national asthma pathways, and support future clinical studies in Scotland. Researchers who wish to use the data will need to apply and meet strict ethical and data-protection standards. Results from studies using this database will be shared with the public, healthcare teams, and patient groups, ensuring that the findings directly benefit people living with asthma.
Research database title
Creation and maintenance of the Scottish Airways Research Network
Establishment organisation
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Establishment organisation address
Dundee
DD1 9SY