No. Use of CUPL is optional for all researchers seeking to use the 45 and Up Study cohort for their research. Some research may not require the big data available in CUPL, and researchers with limited experience in using linked data may find the work needed to select and clean the variables is challenging and disproportionate to their research needs. Researchers may choose to establish their own data linkage project or use the 45 and Up Study survey data alone rather than the full CUPL linkage. The Sax Institute will continue to support all 45 and Up Study research. CUPL has been developed to provide a streamlined option for accessing multiple data sources when researching chronic conditions.
The 45 and Up Study Research team are happy to answer queries about the kinds of research that may benefit from using CUPL compared with other data access models. The team can be contacted at 45andUp.research@saxinstitute.org.au