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UKRI funding for VISTA to drive AI capabilities for sensitive data research

VISTA

Monday 17th March 2025

VISTA (Viable Implementation of SATRE, SACRO and Tools for AI) is announced today as one of six projects supported through DARE UK’s early adopter programme, which aims to support the implementation of Trusted Research Environments (TREs) across the country.

Led by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Health Innovation East and Cambridge University Health Partners, VISTA will receive £393,725 of funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to accelerate the adoption of AI and machine learning capabilities in the East of England Secure Data Environment (SDE).

VISTA will address critical challenges in scalability and disclosure control in TRE/SDE implementation by focusing on three areas:

  • Automated deployment of TREs: Develop the Standard Architecture for Trusted Research Environments (SATRE) specification and benchmarking tools for streamlined, software-defined TRE deployment.

  • Accelerating secure research outputs: Test and refine the SACRO (semi-automated checking of research outputs) toolkit to support the safe export of research outputs. SACRO will enhance security by identifying areas of data or outputs that require human scrutiny, whilst streamlining the review process for efficiency and accuracy.

  • Advancing AI/ML readiness: Co-develop a rapid risk assessment tool to enable the secure training of AI/ML models on sensitive data, accelerating their readiness for deployment in NHS services.

The project will evaluate the practical viability of these capabilities in East of England’s SDE to ensure their safe adoption in a real-world data environment to enhance the access and use of sensitive health data for research and public benefit.

Furthermore, insights gained from VISTA will enhance the capacity of other SDEs and TREs in the country that are serving as early adopters of innovative data research capabilities.

DARE UK Deputy Director Fergus McDonald said:

"These projects represent a necessary step towards enhancing TRE operations in the UK, helping to unlock the full potential of secure data research. By testing these innovations in real-world settings, we are ensuring they are both effective and safe—benefiting researchers, data providers, and ultimately, the public."

Full details about the VISTA project can be found on DARE UK's website.

For further details about how the East of England SDE can support your research study, contact us at eoe-sde@healthinnovationeast.co.uk