Using RaDaR for Research

Review the data dictionary and cohort coverage information to identify the information relevant to your proposal.

Download the RaDaR data dictionary

View RaDaR data coverage

In your application, explain the proposed study population, information required, intended analyses and anticipated patient benefit. Declare any commercial funding or collaboration.

Requests involving UK Renal Registry, Patients Know Best or linked NHSBT–UKRR information require discussion with the research team because different permissions and application processes apply.

External studies recruiting RaDaR participants or receiving individual patient information require their own ethics approval and participant consent. Any proposed patient-level data transfer requires separate consideration under RaDaR’s approved data-sharing arrangements.

Read RaDaR permissions and approvals

Complete the industry expression of interest form and return it, with any supporting documents, to the RaDaR team.

A panel of senior UK Kidney Association staff reviews expressions of interest. Following review, a panel member will contact you to discuss the next steps. We aim to respond within two weeks.

All work conducted for industry is charged. Once your expression of interest has been approved and the initial scope agreed, we will provide a quotation and breakdown of costs.

Download the industry expression of interest form

Email your enquiry or application

Data analyses

We offer two types of analysis:

Restricted data analysis

Queries on data completeness and quality, and basic statistical analyses up to a maximum of 2 tables or figures, or 1 of each.

Full data analysis

Statistical analyses producing more than 2 tables or figures, support for grant applications and quotations.

Restricted analysis application process

Specify the cohort and any subgroups required. For tables, provide empty layouts showing the rows and columns to populate. For figures, define the axes.

Complete the restricted analysis request form and return it to the RaDaR team. Applications are assessed by RaDaR statisticians. You will receive a decision within two weeks and, if approved, we aim to provide the outputs within a further two weeks.

Download the restricted analysis request form

Full analysis application process

1. Submit an expression of interest with approval from the relevant Rare Disease Group lead.
2. The RaDaR Data Analysis Group reviews your expression of interest by email. You will be notified of the outcome within two weeks.
3. If your expression of interest is approved, you will be invited to complete a full application. Only complete the full application when invited.
4. Submit the full application at least four weeks before the meeting at which it will be considered. Later submissions may be deferred.
5. You will receive the decision and any feedback within two weeks of the meeting.
6. Following approval, the team will arrange a discussion about the analyses, next steps and timelines.

Download the full analysis expression of interest form

Download the full application form — for invited applicants

Email your enquiry or application

Use the patient contact request form to ask RaDaR to email participants about an opportunity, such as a research study or survey. For survey invitations, include a copy of the questions.

If you need RaDaR to design or run a survey, collect responses, analyse responses or provide additional project support, use the full analysis expression of interest route instead.

Requests are assessed by an internal review group, including consideration of how recently the relevant participants have been contacted. You will receive a decision within two weeks. Following approval, the team will discuss next steps and timescales.

Complex participant-selection requests or repeated reviews for newly eligible participants may incur a charge.

Download the patient contact request form

Email your enquiry or application

Results are provided for the approved project and named researchers. Prior RaDaR approval is required before they are used for another project or by other researchers.

The application forms set out the conditions for publications and other outputs. These include:

• Including RaDaR or the relevant Rare Disease Group as an author
• Offering authorship to individuals who make a significant contribution to the analysis
• Allowing all authors adequate time to review and approve outputs before submission
• Using the required patient acknowledgement and any acknowledgements applying to linked NHS England data
• Notifying RaDaR when outputs are published

Read these conditions when preparing your application and planning publications.