Data Driver Projects

HDRS has today launched a rolling call for Data Driver Projects – an exciting opportunity for UK organisations and consortia to use existing health data, infrastructure and access routes to generate real value for researchers, patients, the NHS and Health and Social Care Services (HSC).

The UK holds some of the world’s most valuable health data, but patients are waiting longer than they need to for medical innovations and treatments that could be life changing. HDRS is creating a single, secure gateway that gives approved researchers simpler, faster access to the data they need. Our driver projects have been set up to provide real world examples of the potential for health data being used in research. This is the second call for Driver Projects that HDRS has launched this summer, following the call for Technical Transformation Projects in July.

Funding is being made available for projects that build on existing capabilities, partnerships, datasets and services, or find new ways to use them to deliver measurable outcomes. Projects should focus on one or more of the following themes:

1. Discovery research
2. Clinical trials
3. Innovation development
4. Evaluation and evidence generation

This programme forms part of HDRS’ wider ambition to accelerate the use of health data for research and innovation. Particular emphasis will be placed on ambitious but deliverable projects that can demonstrate meaningful outcomes within the funding period and leave lasting impact through reusable datasets, assets, resources, or capabilities. 

Applications are open to a broad range of UK-registered organisations, including NHS organisations, universities and research institutions, charities, industry, SMEs, secure data environments (SDEs) and other health data environments across the UK, as well as multi-organisation consortia. Given the programme timescales, the call is intended to support projects that are sufficiently set up to begin delivery shortly after award. Applicants should therefore be able to demonstrate that the necessary data access, information governance, partnership and delivery arrangements are already in place, or will be in place by project mobilisation in autumn 2026.

The call will remain open until 2 October 2026, and will operate as a rolling funding call with applications assessed through two formal review cycles.

Key dates for applicants:

• Call opens: 12 August 2026
• First webinar for prospective applicants: 14 August 2026, 14.00-14.45.  Register here
• Second webinar for prospective applicants: 2 September 2026, 14.00-14.45. Register here
• Call closing date: 5pm, 2 October 2026
• Assessment Cycle 1 submission deadline (mid-point): 5pm, 9 September 2026
• Assessment Cycle 2 submission deadline (final): 5pm, 2 October 2026

Please see the call brief and FAQs for more information and guidance.

• Call brief
• FAQs

Applications must be completed on the Application Form and sent to driverprojects@hdrs.com by the submission deadlines.

• Application form

For a Plain English explainer of this article, click the link below.

• Plain English explainer

We welcome any further questions from prospective applicants. Please contact driverprojects@hdrs.com if you have any issues downloading or accessing the documents or wish to speak to a member of the team.