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...