NHS Health Data Use Case Study Library

To help understand why NHS data is crucial for research, developing innovative, safe, and effective medicines, we have created a publicly accessible case study library.
This new ABPI health data case study library contains examples of how the pharmaceutical industry has used NHS data in medical research and the benefits that have emerged as a result. These examples cover different therapeutic areas, datasets and types of research.

Why the pharmaceutical industry needs NHS data to develop new medicines
To accompany the launch of the Industry Use of Health Data Case Study Library, ABPI Executive Director for Research and Innovation, Janet Valentine, explains why it is important for the pharmaceutical industry to access to anonymised NHS data for research to develop new safe and effective medicines that benefit patients in the UK and globally.

Hip fractures relating to weak and brittle bones are a global public health concern, with over 10 million cases per year globally.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death and illness among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Gaucher disease is a rare genetic condition where fatty substances build up in organs, like the liver, spleen and bones.

Many causes of disease are associated with an individual’s genetic make-up and there is increasing interest in medical research to understand how our genes might influence our chances of getting a disease.

Kidney cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the UK, with over 10,000 new cases per year.

Cancer directly affects thousands of people in the UK, with over 457,000 new cases and nearly 180,000 deaths in 2020 alone.

More than one billion medicines are prescribed each year in the UK, but a large proportion of patients do not take their medication as instructed, which can lead to worse health outcomes.