Centre Overview
SAIL Databank is a safe haven for billions of person-based records, which enables researchers to answer important questions for the benefit of society. Researchers can access a broad range of routinely collected data spanning up to 20 years from an entire population.
We achieve this by working collaboratively with data guardians, academics, regulators, members of the public, practitioners and policymakers from Wales, across the UK and internationally.
We hold de-identified datasets in linkable form and, following further safeguards, make selected data available for analysis in anonymised form. Approved researchers are able to access the data remotely anywhere in the world, complete with analysis tools. Because the data accessed for research is in anonymised form, the work is carried out without researchers knowing the identities of the individuals represented.
We are committed to working with researchers, the NHS and other health-related stakeholders to conduct projects that lead to enhanced patient care, public benefit and improvements in health and wellbeing, and support better policy making, practice and citizen wellbeing.
We are involved in a range of research disciplines including:
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- Large scale studies
- Cohort studies
- Case control studies
- Purposive studies
- Policy evaluation
- Methodological research
- Replication studies
The SAIL Databank receives funding support from Health and Care Research Wales, and is currently supporting research with an average value of £11 million per annum. SAIL also makes a significant contribution to developing the Welsh research sector. Between April 2018 – March 2019 SAIL attracted £10.3 million direct investment into Wales by enabling the development of new data analytics platforms and created 25 full time jobs of more than two years in duration.
