Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has expanded access to its Imperial Health Knowledge Bank, now available to all patients within the trust. The database, initially trialed with patients in oncology, hepatology, and cardiology, allows patients to be contacted about relevant clinical trials and studies and store their health information and samples for research purposes.
Researchers from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and collaborating organizations can request access to invite patients in the database to participate in research studies based on their pseudonymized health data. The database automatically extracts information from patients’ medical notes, including details of their conditions, treatments, and medications.
Access to the data is granted through a dedicated access committee comprising patient representatives, clinicians, and academics. Patients can choose to provide a blood sample to be stored alongside their data, with the test arranged at their next routine appointment.
Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, the project aims to develop new experimental treatments and diagnostics. The recent launch of a Digital Collaboration Space at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust’s Paddington Life Sciences development further supports health data-enabled research.
The expansion of the Imperial Health Knowledge Bank aims to align research questions with the priorities of the north west London community, enhancing understanding of their health needs. It also facilitates the discovery and validation of new targets and biomarkers for disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
Professor Mark Thursz, director of the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, emphasized the importance of the knowledge bank in improving healthcare. He stated, “The Imperial Health Knowledge Bank provides patients with the opportunity to contribute to medical science and influence the development of new treatments with significant impacts on others’ lives.”
