Linking sensitive healthcare data across different organisations is vital for breakthrough research, but technical, legal, and information governance (IG) barriers have historically slowed progress. The Pan-North Data Research Advancements for Multi-Domain Access and Analysis (PANORAMA) project looked at how different organisations can safely study sensitive data together without actually moving or mixing the raw information. Known as 'federation', this approach allows researchers to solve big healthcare and public questions while keeping personal information safe.
Led by the University of Sheffield and funded via a £1.86 million UKRI/DARE UK programme, the PANORAMA project brought together NHS and university partners covering 15 million people in the north of England. Together, we tested how to make federated data research faster and safer by piloting national standards and emerging tools, including: Standard Architecture for Trusted Research Environments (SATRE), the 5 Safes Trusted Execution Service (5STES), and Semi-Automated Checking of Research Outputs (SACRO).
What we learned
Technical solutions alone will not deliver federation. Organisations must first agree on a shared language, define the scope of federation and establish governance arrangements that all partners, and the public, can trust. PANORAMA demonstrated that these organisational foundations are critical to enabling secure, scalable federated analytics across SDEs.
Access the project resources
To help other Secure Data Environments (SDEs) transition to practical federation, PANORAMA has published a comprehensive suite of actionable resources, including:
- A practical guide to implementing federated Information Governance.
- Technical feasibility and deployment assessments for SATRE, TRE-FX, and SACRO.
- A public and professional engagement insights report.
Explore and download the full PANORAMA reports and outputs
Join the conversation
DARE UK will host a public webinar on Thursday, 30 July 2026 (11:30 – 13:00) where the early adopter teams will present their work and answer questions. Register for “Insights from the DARE UK Early Adopters: Key learnings and outcomes".