Getting Started
This section helps Data Custodians understand what is involved in onboarding their datasets to the HDR UK Cohort Discovery Service.
Who is this guide for?
A Data Custodian is any organisation onboarding data onto the Cohort Discovery Service — typically also the Data Controller, but not always. This could be an NHS Trust, university, or other healthcare organisation.
What you will need to do
To make your data discoverable via Cohort Discovery, you must complete three parallel workstreams:
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Governance
Obtain Data Controller consent, complete local approvals, and conduct any required technical risk assessments.
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Data
Extract a subset of your data, map it to the OMOP Common Data Model, and ETL it to your secure environment.
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Infrastructure
Set up a secure network area and install query retrieval software (e.g. Bunny).
First steps
- Read the prerequisites — ensure your organisation meets the access requirements.
- Contact the HDR UK team — an introductory meeting will be arranged to define tasks and responsibilities.
- Contribute Gateway metadata — a metadata record on the Gateway is required before Cohort Discovery can go live. See how to contribute metadata.
Governance first
Start the Governance workstream as soon as the project is initiated — it typically has the longest lead time. Data and Infrastructure workstreams can run in parallel once governance steps are underway.
Gateway metadata
The Cohort Discovery Service links to your Gateway metadata record so researchers can find contact details and data descriptions. Cohort Discovery and Gateway onboarding can occur simultaneously.