UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure – DARE UK Programme Phase 2

The UK is building a secure national network that lets approved researchers link and analyse sensitive data—like health records or census information—without ever seeing anyone’s personal details. This matters because sensitive data is currently scattered across separate, incompatible systems. Researchers often wait months to get access, and the data they receive may be incomplete or hard to combine. DARE UK aims to solve that by creating a shared set of tools, standards, and rules that allow different Trusted Research Environments (TREs) to work together seamlessly. If the programme succeeds, researchers could analyse linked datasets—for example, linking hospital records with housing data to study health inequalities—in weeks rather than years. The network is designed to keep data secure and confidential, with public oversight built in. This could accelerate research into disease outbreaks, social policy, and other areas where combining sensitive information leads to better decisions. The project is infrastructure, not a specific experiment. Its value lies in making future research faster, safer, and more productive for public benefit.