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Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF) have formalised a partnership in health data science by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement aims to leverage advanced data science and research methodologies to ethically use health data, enhance healthcare outcomes, drive research innovation, and strengthen ties between the UK and Singapore.
The MoU was signed by Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, Permanent Secretary for National Research and Development, and Professor Andrew Morris, Director of Health Data Research UK. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Research Foundation.
This partnership highlights the UK’s leadership in health data science and Singapore’s commitment to research excellence. It allows HDR UK and its partners to share expertise globally while addressing urgent healthcare challenges, aiming to extend its benefits beyond borders and improve healthcare systems and patient outcomes worldwide.
Professor Andrew Morris underscored the partnership’s role in transforming healthcare through whole system intelligence by continuously monitoring patient trajectories. He stated that enhancing collaboration can improve patient outcomes and create a global research platform for the ethical use of data, reflecting a commitment to unlocking health data’s potential for significant global benefits and advancing medical research.
This collaboration is supported by multiple institutions, including The University of Nottingham, Swansea University Medical School, the Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), and the Trusted Research and Real-world Utilisation and Sharing Tech (TRUST) Office. Together, these institutions will enhance the partnership’s capacity to drive impactful health data research on an international scale.
The HDR UK-NRF partnership will concentrate on several priority areas:
Accelerating Trustworthy Data Use: The partnership aims to promote the safe and ethical use of health data through the development of best practices in information governance, trusted research environments, and public engagement, fostering public trust.
International Scale Research: Focusing on cross-border research initiatives, the partnership will utilise open data standards and federated analysis to address global health challenges, showcasing the potential of large-scale data science collaborations.
Shaping the Future of Health Data Research: The collaboration will drive innovation through joint publications, conference presentations, and educational initiatives, promoting thought leadership, training, and knowledge exchange.
Promoting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The partnership will work to ensure that research outputs benefit diverse populations, contributing to a more inclusive global health ecosystem.
Professor Tom Rodden, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Nottingham, highlighted the university’s role in developing open-source tools for rapid data sharing and improving responses to health crises. He stressed that the partnership will enhance interdisciplinary research and collaboration among experts.
Simon Thompson, Professor of Health Informatics at Swansea University Medical School, emphasised that the collaboration demonstrates a commitment to using health data and technology to enhance healthcare outcomes. He noted that the international partnership will accelerate the development of innovative solutions for the UK and the global community.
Dr. Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, Executive Director of ASTAR Bioinformatics Institute, remarked, “ASTAR BII is committed to advancing secure cross-border population-level data analytics, enhancing patient care, and driving better healthcare outcomes for Singapore, the UK, and beyond.”
Mingshi Koh, Director of the TRUST Office, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “We look forward to collaborating on common standards and secure data-sharing practices, creating opportunities for world-class cross-border research that benefits both countries and beyond.”
This partnership signifies a pivotal step towards unlocking the global potential of data to improve health and healthcare. Both HDR UK and NRF are dedicated to collaborating closely with researchers, clinicians, and patients to ensure that the advancements in health data science yield meaningful benefits for communities worldwide.
