How the Medical Research Information Service works

Please click on the step-by-step guide below to see how the overall MRIS process works, and how we work with the Data Access Advisory Group (DAAG) committee and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to provide you with the data you need.

• Step-by-step guide to the application process (PDF 60KB)

How to apply

The How to apply page guides you through filling in the application form, gaining approvals and gathering the supporting documents that we need.

Happy to help

Please contact us at any time for help and advice about your application. We are happy to talk to you at any point during the process.

How do I get information to support my research?

Applications with informed consent from members are reviewed by the DAAG before approval can be given and we can supply you with any data. This process usually takes three to five months. We process applications in the date order that they are received.

Applications with S251 support can be fast tracked, subject to all other requirements being met.

For details on the progress of your application please contact us.

Roles

The NHS Information Centre: We will give you support to fill out your application form, which should be submitted to us.

Once you have heard whether the DAAG have given your study full approval, ONS have confirmed the legal gateway and the Data Sharing Agreement is signed we will then be in a position to negotiate a schedule for your work.

National Research Ethics Service: The National Research Ethics Service (NRES) is run by the NHS National Patient Safety Agency and gives ethical approval to medical research, protecting the safety, dignity and wellbeing of research patients, whilst facilitating and promoting ethical research within the NHS.

Office for National Statistics: The ONS is an executive office of the United Kingdom's Statistics Authority.

If you require registration or cancer data then you will need to ensure you have a clear legal basis to access the data. The NHS IC work with ONS to provide you with access to these data, however, the decision as to whether access to birth, deaths and cancer data is permitted lies solely with ONS.

Supporting information

Ethical Approval: Please note that we can only provide you with data if your study has ethical approval from the National Research Ethics Service (NRES), or the ethics committee have stated that the project does not require ethical review. e.g. the project is audit or service evaluation

Consent or S251 support: Please note we can only provide you with data if your study has fully informed consent or S251 support.

Patient information literature: Please note the patient information literature should clearly describe the use and processing of individual person identifiable data.

Legal basis to receive registration or cancer data: Please note if you require registration or cancer data then you will need to ensure you have a clear legal basis to access the data.

System Level Security Policy (SLSP): Please note you will need to provide a SLSP for your project.