The DARE UK delivery team recently hosted a Persona and User Journey Development workshop, bringing together stakeholders from various organisations to establish key personas for a future pan-UKRI council digital research infrastructure for sensitive data research.

The DARE UK delivery team recently hosted a collaborative Persona and User Journey Development workshop on 10 July 2023. The workshop, facilitated by David Merideth, Design Thinking Expert and Research Software Engineering (RSE) Group Lead at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), aimed to establish key personas for a future pan-UKRI council digital research infrastructure dedicated to research on sensitive data.

Building on the first persona development workshop in April 2022, which focused on TRE users, this workshop aimed to understand the key personas associated with data providers and TRE service providers, including TRE operators and information governance specialists. The outputs from the first workshop are documented in the DARE UK Phase 1 recommendations report and referenced in the recently published DARE UK federated architecture blueprint

Over twenty-five participants representing more than 15 organisations nationwide attended the workshop. Diverse stakeholders from renowned institutions such as the Office for National StatisticsOpenSAFELYResearch Data ScotlandUse MY Data and Secure eResearch Platform (SeRP) actively engaged in discussions.

The workshop provided a unique platform for professionals in the field to openly share their experiences, challenges, and aspirations concerning TREs and sensitive data provision. Participants discussed key activities, pain points, main goals, and specific needs, contributing valuable insights to the ongoing development of the DARE UK Programme.

The outcomes of the workshop, which will be documented by David Merideth, are set to play a crucial role in shaping the DARE UK Federated Architecture Blueprint. By incorporating the perspectives of various stakeholders, this blueprint will lay the foundation for a future-proof digital research infrastructure that ensures the secure and efficient utilisation of sensitive data across domains.

We extend our gratitude to all participants for their active involvement in this important workshop, which represents a significant step forward in designing a robust and inclusive sensitive data research infrastructure.