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Apply for research access to OpenSAFELY

This form is for researchers requesting access to the OpenSAFELY-EMIS/-TPP COVID-19 research platform, which has been established by NHS England and NHSX; NHS England is the data controller. One lead applicant — the application owner — should complete this form on behalf of their research team.

Continue an existing application

What data can I access via OpenSAFELY?

Our documentation lists the available data sources.

The OpenSAFELY reports site details the database schema for datasets and the last import date for that data.

Before you begin

You will need:

  • a free GitHub account (sign up if you don't have one already)
  • information about your proposed research to briefly describe the aims, potential methods and the expected outputs
  • contact details for the individuals who will write the study code and/or review the results (individuals can have different levels of platform access, described later)
  • to have completed the OpenSAFELY Getting Started guide

Importantly, if your study is research, you will need a favourable opinion from an NHS Research Ethics Committee, obtained via the HRA IRAS process. [Note: the HRA and HCRW Approval step is NOT required, therefore, on your IRAS form, for question 3a choose the option "This study does not involve the NHS”.]

If your study is a service evaluation/audit, you will need to evidence this (explained later), obtain a favouable opinion from a local / institutional Research Ethics Committee and provide evidence of support from a senior sponsor, such as an NHSE national clinical lead, band 9, director, or the sponsor might be a member of SAGE, JCVI, etc.

NOTE: For NHSE applicants review by a local / institutional Research Ethics Committee will not be required; for the existing approved Bennett Institute/LSHTM Observatory/Aftershocks workstream, sponsorship is also not required, but may be requested on a case-by-case basis by the OpenSAFELY team.

How we use your data

We use data submitted by this form as described in our privacy policy.

Before you start your application

Here is a copy of our online application form, including a checklist at the end. This is only to be used as a guide to help you understand the information needed to assess our application. Do not use the PDF file to submit an application.

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