SDE operational readiness report, Q4 2025/26

Funded by NHS England's Data for Research and Development (R&D) Programme, the NHS Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) Network (the 'SDE Network') has started to provide a breadth and depth of data which will increasingly enable a full spectrum of research use cases, from epidemiology and real-world evidence studies to AI and translational research.

The SDE Network is delivering secure access to health data from a population of 57 million people in England, nurturing SDEs to innovate, and has plans for full coverage of rich multimodal data across imaging, pathology, genomics and structured data. At the time of the operational readiness review in summer 2025, there were around 30 million GP records available through SDEs and 500 research studies either complete or live in the SDE Network pipeline. The SDE Network provides access to NHS and academic partnerships for delivery expertise and translational connectivity, underpinned by ongoing Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE).

Through the work of its community of practice, the SDE Network has delivered a single Data Access Application Form (DARF) and costing framework to be used across the SDE Network, thereby decreasing system complexity. The enhanced Health Data Research (HDR) Gateway, the single front door for the SDE Network, has been launched in partnership with HDR UK. The Research Powered by Data (RPbD) web pages provide information at network-wide and individual SDE level to support ease of discovery for researchers. The RPbD pages also host the harmonised Registration Service (previously known as the Validation Service) and the Concierge Service, simplifying processes and access to support for researchers.

During quarter 2 of financial year (FY) 2025/26 the Data for R&D Programme undertook a review of the SDE Network to assess its progress and state of maturity ahead of the establishment of the Health Data Research Service (HDRS) from April 2026. The review represented a snapshot in time with the intention to: 

• understand state of operational development
• inform and connect into the evolving HDRS
• shape future requirements as input to current SDE business planning, including investments and financial allocations to the SDE Network for 2025/26

The operational readiness review covered all 12 SDEs within the SDE Network. A consistent framework was used for reviewing each SDE and covered 3 domains: stakeholder management and relationships, SDE operations, and business development and opportunity management. Evidence for these domains was identified across a range of review areas that included: 

• stakeholders and data supply engagement
• PPIE
• operating model
• technology platforms
• data and metadata
• governance
• business development and marketing

The review found there is strong alignment with the ambitions of HDRS and broad delivery of foundational capabilities across the SDE Network. All SDEs have made progress in setting up operational services, building technical platforms, and supporting live research projects. The review also identified that readiness was variable and that there was the opportunity to widen adoption of good practice and embed learning from the more mature SDEs across the SDE Network.

To ensure the SDE Network is in the best position for the future, insights gathered through the process help to inform planning and decision-making. In particular, this relates to:

• 4 principal research data architectures to meet use cases and increase interoperability
• opportunities for service consolidation (produced once and re-used many times) to enable SDE focus on unique offerings and interoperability
• optimal geographical footprint and potential reconfigurations

The maturity matrix, areas of strength and best practice identified through the operational readiness review were also used to inform the business planning process in summer 2025/26.