With £1.86 million in funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), DARE UK has launched six new projects enabling over 10 Trusted Research Environments (TREs) to become early testers and adopters of new capabilities developed by TREvolution under the DARE UK Transformational Programme.
The DARE UK Early Adopters will integrate and test capabilities to enhance key aspects of TRE operations, including federated analysis, support for AI training, semi-automated output checking and TRE reference architecture implementations within specific UK TREs and data services.
The aim is to evaluate the practical viability of these capabilities in real-world TRE or Secure Data Environment (SDE) scenarios and ensure their safe adoption to enhance research data access and analysis for public benefit.
Funding for the projects was made available after a rapid funding call inviting applications from eligible organisations to deliver early adoption efforts, including:
- Technical feasibility testing to validate and refine solutions.
- Operational feasibility analysis to integrate capabilities into standard procedures.
- Information governance feasibility assessments to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Pilot implementations of one or more TRE capabilities for real-world testing and evaluation.
By the close of the call, 20 applications were received, representing approximately 30 TREs in the UK. This shows a significant demand from the TRE community to be involved, evidenced by an oversubscription of 3.5 times the available funding. An independent panel reviewed and selected six applications in this funding round.
The six successful projects received a combined total of £1,860,257 to deliver outputs between March 2025 and March 2026. The projects and funding provided include:
FRIDGE: Federated Research Infrastructure by Data Governance Extension – £399,999
- Led by The Alan Turing Institute, FRIDGE will develop a cross-platform SATRE-compliant TRE that will unlock the power of the AI Research Resource (AIRR) for developing large-scale AI models based on sensitive data.
FOCUS-5: Federating Operations and Collaborations Using the Five Safes – £399,961
- Led by the University of Liverpool, FOCUS-5 will refine the Five Safes Research Object Crates (5SROCs) for federated analysis in NHS SDEs (Lancashire and South Cumbria SDE and Wessex SDE), utilising and enhancing DataSHIELD.
SOAR: Semi-Automated Output Assessment and Review – £46,760
- Led by the Office for National Statistics, SOAR will test remote accessibility and effectiveness of semi-automation in output checking at the ONS Secure Research Service (SRS).
VISTA: Viable Implementation of SATRE, SACRO and Tools for AI – £393,725
- Led by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Health Innovation East, VISTA will accelerate the adoption of AI and machine learning capabilities in the East of England SDE and benchmark the implementation of the SATRE specification.
PANORAMA: Pan-North Data Research Advancements for Multi-domain Access and Analysis – £320,000
- Led by the University of Sheffield, PANORAMA will test the adoption of TREvolution components across multiple North of England SDEs and data services – North West SDE, North East North Cumbria SDE, Yorkshire and Humber SDE and the University of Sheffield Secure Data Services.
SAFER: SAIL Advancing Federated Exploration and Readiness – £299,812
- Led by Swansea University, SAFER will explore operationalising federated analysis within and between TREs through a review of existing policies and processes, specifically within SAIL Databank, engaging with stakeholders and the public.
Reflecting on the launch of the early adopter projects, DARE UK Deputy Director Fergus McDonald said: “These projects represent a necessary step towards enhancing TRE operations in the UK, helping to unlock the full potential of secure data research. It is brilliant to see such overwhelming interest from TREs to be part of the process. By testing these innovations in real-world settings, we are ensuring they are both effective and safe—benefiting researchers, data providers, and ultimately, the public.”
The outcomes from these projects will be crucial in shaping how TREs and data services in the UK adopt these new capabilities. The findings from the feasibility assessments will also help to refine and enhance the solutions, ensuring they effectively meet the needs of researchers, data providers, and regulators alike.
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