Apply to access the data

Getting started

Follow the steps below to set up your researcher account and apply to access the data you need.

---

1. Create a researcher account

Your account is where you'll:

• apply to be an Our Future Health registered researcher
• complete the study application form and tell us what data you need
• manage your study applications and access the data

---

2. Apply to be an Our Future Health registered researcher

To become an Our Future Health registered researcher, you must work for, or be a supervised student of one of the following:

• a university
• a charity
• the NHS
• an organisation involved in health research

You apply to be an Our Future Health registered researcher in your researcher account. When you apply, you’ll need to:

• submit a completed researcher application form. This will ask for your contact details and details about your organisation

• read and agree to our Registered Researcher Terms and Conditions

• provide evidence that you’ve completed information governance training within the last 12 months that covers UK GDPR. Your institution may have the training you need but if you’re unsure, contact access@ourfuturehealth.org.uk

You will get a response within 2 weeks.

Our eligible organisations policy

Organisations must meet certain ethical, legal, and organisational standards to be eligible to work with us. These are outlined in our Eligible Organisations Policy.

Any organisation applying to work with us must meet the following criteria:

1. The organisation is a recognised research organisation that conducts research related to human health
2. The organisation will utilise study findings for the benefit of public health 
3. Affiliation with the organisation will not bring Our Future Health into disrepute or stigmatise any of its participants 
4. The organisation does not operate in countries/territories listed on the UK, EU or USA sanction lists or considered too high risk after review by Our Future Health

---

3. Request access to data for your study

If you're approved as a registered researcher, you can complete a study application form to apply for access to the data.

You'll need to complete several steps as part of your study application.

• Complete a study application form from within your Our Future Health researcher account. This will ask you for details about your study, the data you need, and a plain language summary of your study.

Our Access Boardopens in new tab will review your study application. Our Access Board are experts and public representatives who oversee access to the data.

You will get a response within 60 days.

If the Access Board approve your study application, we will publish your summary of your study onto the Health Data Research UK Innovation Gateway website.opens in new tab

We will also require you to keep us updated on the progress of your study on a yearly basis through submission of an Annual study report form.

• There is a Plain language guide to help you.

• Confirm the names and affiliated organisations of researchers you’ll be collaborating with on the study. Each collaborator will need to be an Our Future Health registered researcher.
• Have your study application form signed by an authorised representative from the organisation. This person will have overall responsibility for the study.
• Make sure an authorised representative from each collaborating organisation has read and signed a copy of our Resource Terms and Conditions.

• Provide an International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) signed by your organisation if you are accessing the data outside of the UK and European Economic Area (EEA).

  View a list of countries and territories and their rules on accessing Our Future Health data.opens in new tab

Find out more about submitting an IDTA

You do not need to submit an IDTA if you are accessing data from:

• the UK
• the EEA
• a country that is covered by UK adequacy regulation (that is, a decision made by the UK which recognises that another country, territory, sector or international organisation provides an equivalent level of protection for personal data as the UK does).

More information about IDTAs and which countries are covered by adequacy regulations is available at the Information Commissioner's Office guidance.

Go to the Information Commissioner’s Office guidance on international transfers.opens in new tab

Fees for accessing the data

If the Access Board approves your study application, you will need to pay to access the data you’ve requested. This fee will support the long-term sustainability of the Our Future Health programme. For information, inquiries or assistance, please contact access@ourfuturehealth.org.uk.

For commercial research organisations, fees will vary depending on the type and size of your affiliated organisation. Please contact partnerships@ourfuturehealth.org.uk.

---

4. Analyse the data in a secure environment

If your study application is approved, your approved data will be available in the Our Future Health Trusted Research Environment (TRE).

Our TRE is a secure computing environment where you can analyse the data.

---

5. Making changes to your study

Principal Investigators (PIs) can submit study amendments directly in the Researcher Portal by completing an online study amendment form.

PIs can update:

• information about the study such as the plain language title and summary
• the scientific detail and study design
• members of the research team
• any other supporting information

Once submitted, the review process can take up to 35 days. The Access Team will email you if they need any more information.

Log in to begin a study amendmentopens in new tab

If you have any questions about this process, email access@ourfuturehealth.org.uk.

---

6. Ending your study

If your study is ending you will need to complete an End of study declaration form.

If you are publishing research which uses Our Future Health data, you will need to complete a Publication submission form.

Any resulting publications will need to comply with the Our Future Health Publication policy (PDF, 188KB).opens in new tab

Forms should be completed and submitted to our access team at access@ourfuturehealth.org.uk.

---

What our researchers think

Back to top

Updated: 30 June 2026