A Hybrid Architecture (CO-CONNECT) to Facilitate Rapid Discovery and Access to Data Across the United Kingdom in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Development Study
Authors: Jefferson Emily , Cole Christian , Mumtaz Shahzad , Cox Samuel , Giles Thomas Charles , Adejumo Sam , Urwin Esmond , Lea Daniel , Macdonald Calum , Best Joseph , Masood Erum , Milligan Gordon , Johnston Jenny , Horban Scott , Birced Ipek , Hall Christopher , Jackson Aaron S , Collins Clare , Rising Sam , Dodsley Charlotte , Hampton Jill , Hadfield Andrew , Santos Roberto , Tarr Simon , Panagi Vasiliki , Lavagna Joseph , Jackson Tracy , Chuter Antony , Beggs Jillian , Martinez-Queipo Magdalena , Ward Helen , von Ziegenweidt Julie , Burns Frances , Martin Joanne , Sebire Neil , Morris Carole , Bradley Declan , Baxter Rob , Ahonen-Bishopp Anni , Smith Paul , Shoemark Amelia , Valdes Ana M , Ollivere Benjamin , Manisty Charlotte , Eyre David , Gallant Stephanie , Joy George , McAuley Andrew , Connell David , Northstone Kate , Jeffery Katie , Di Angelantonio Emanuele , McMahon Amy , Walker Mat , Semple Malcolm Gracie , Sims Jessica Mai , Lawrence Emma , Davies Bethan , Baillie John Kenneth , Tang Ming , Leeming Gary , Power Linda , Breeze Thomas , Murray Duncan , Orton Chris , Pierce Iain , Hall Ian , Ladhani Shamez , Gillson Natalie , Whitaker Matthew , Shallcross Laura , Seymour David , Varma Susheel , Reilly Gerry , Morris Andrew , Hopkins Susan , Sheikh Aziz , Quinlan Philip 
Published: November 2022

Background

COVID-19 data have been generated across the United Kingdom as a by-product of clinical care and public health provision, as well as numerous bespoke and repurposed research endeavors. Analysis of these data has underpinned the United Kingdom’s response to the pandemic, and informed public health policies and clinical guidelines. However, these data are held by different organizations, and this fragmented landscape has presented challenges for public health agencies and researchers as they struggle to find relevant data to access and interrogate the data they need to inform the pandemic response at pace.

Objective

We aimed to transform UK COVID-19 diagnostic data sets to be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR).

Methods

A federated infrastructure model (COVID - Curated and Open Analysis and Research Platform [CO-CONNECT]) was rapidly built to enable the automated and reproducible mapping of health data partners’ pseudonymized data to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model without the need for any data to leave the data controllers’ secure environments, and to support federated cohort discovery queries and meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 56 data sets from 19 organizations are being connected to the federated network. The data include research cohorts and COVID-19 data collected through routine health care provision linked to longitudinal health care records and demographics. The infrastructure is live, supporting aggregate-level querying of data across the United Kingdom.

Conclusions

CO-CONNECT was developed by a multidisciplinary team. It enables rapid COVID-19 data discovery and instantaneous meta-analysis across data sources, and it is researching streamlined data extraction for use in a Trusted Research Environment for research and public health analysis. CO-CONNECT has the potential to make UK health data more interconnected and better able to answer national-level research questions while maintaining patient confidentiality and local governance procedures.