East Midlands Secure Data Environment (SDE) set to combine with East of England SDE

Monday 24th November 2025

We are pleased to announce that the East Midlands SDE is now set to join East of England SDE under common operating and governance arrangements, with Cambridge University Hospitals as the Lead Accountable NHS organisation.

Following discussions with stakeholders across the East Midlands, it has become clear that the vision for the East Midlands SDE is closely aligned to the existing operating model in the East of England – we have a shared vision for secure data access for R&D in the public interest, underpinned by public trust, transparency, and accountability for data.

The SDEs are already supporting approved researchers helping to accelerate research discoveries and deliver benefits to patients and the public.

Andrew Haw, Programme Director for East Midlands SDE, said:

“We are pleased to have contributed to the mission of the network to bring new data sets into the SDE, which will support new research to improve patients’ health. “In the coming months, our team at East Midlands SDE will be working with our colleagues in East of England to move to the new, consolidated model to support new research and simplify secure access to health data covering a combined population of 12 million.”

Mark Avery, Programme Director for East of England SDE, said:

“The East of England team is delighted with this endorsement of the approach designed with researchers, participating NHS organisations, patients and the public. We are looking forward to working with our East Midlands colleagues to extend our combined SDE operations across a larger population – offering new opportunities for research. The final decision will be subject to ratification by the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Board in December.”