Engagement with the data-enabled research community
Forums for engagement with the data-enabled research community. NHS England aims to support improving health and care by working with the data enabled research community to support the transparent, effective use of NHS England’s data assets for data-enabled research.
The legacy of the NHS England Research Advisory Group (RAG), has shaped how NHS England engages with the data-enabled research community to improve the generation of advice which will support the transparent, effective use of NHS England’s data assets. Our improved engagement approach includes:
- the NHS England Stakeholder Research Advisory Group (SRAG) which provides a forum for discussing, through the lens of data-enabled researchers, the work of NHS England to support data enabled research. It aims to identify the key areas where advice would be valuable
- the NHS England Data-Enabled Research Advisory Group (DERAG) work with NHS England to generate advice on the priority areas decided by SRAG
SRAG
SRAG continues the model of the legacy RAG by providing a forum for discussing the work of NHS England to support data-enabled research. SRAG, which meets twice a year, uses its wide membership to contextualise NHS England’s work through the lens of data-enabled researchers, contextualising current and future needs through horizon scanning. SRAG identifies the priority areas for advice for NHS England for discussion at DERAG. The first meeting of SRAG took place in February 2024.
DERAG
DERAG generates advice in the key areas decided by SRAG. DERAG, to support its purpose of in-depth discussion and advice generation, is a smaller group than SRAG, and can meet more frequently. To ensure continuity with SRAG, alongside specialist advice, DERAG is made up of SRAG members who can also commission task and finish groups to gain specialist insight. The first meeting of SRAG was in May 2024.
Research community information and events
RAG archive
Copies of the archived RAG membership, terms of reference and minutes are available through the national archive.
Further information
The Data Access Request Service (DARS) can offer clinicians, researchers and commissioners the data required to help improve NHS services. We handle applications, process data and provide access to specific sets of data when requests are approved.
Last edited: 9 July 2025 1:54 pm