NJR Research
Requests
As the largest register of hip, knee, ankle, elbow and shoulder joint replacement procedures in the world, National Joint Registry data presents an unparalleled opportunity for research. Our strategy is to make data widely available to the research community to further the understanding of joint diseases and the determinants of outcome of these common procedures. We are engaged in an active research programme and welcome external requests that will maximise the research potential of this resource.
Before submitting your request
Please review the current portfolio of research approved by the NJR Research Committee. The NJR Research Committee aims to avoid overlap with current approved work in progress. Requests for access to the dataset should fit within one of the priority thematic areas:
• Device and technology assessment
• Patient outcomes, safety, & risk management
• Health economics & cost effectiveness
• Surgeon education & training
• Patient information & shared decision-making
• Disease diagnosis and prognosis
• Disease causation, prevention & treatment
• Injury or trauma in the setting of joint replacement
• Healthy development and ageing in patients with joint disease and replacement
Research projects that wish to use NJR data are classified as external, independent, research projects that are supported by the NJR (NJR Supported Projects) or internal, collaborative projects (NJR Partnership Projects). Use this guidance to establish whether your project is classified as external or internal before submitting your request.
The first step for all research projects is to submit an Expression of Interest. These can be submitted at any time by completion of this form and returning it to research@njr.org.uk
If you are planning to submit a grant application that uses NJR data, an Expression of Interest (EOI) form for the project must be submitted to the NJR Research Committee and an ‘approval in principle’ response received, prior to submission of the grant application to the funding body.
The NJR Research Committee will endeavour to respond to all EOIs within one month of receipt.
If your EOI is approved you will be invited to submit a full application and sent the relevant forms.
Full research applications are reviewed at quarterly Research Committee meetings. Please take note of the deadlines below to allow adequate time to prepare a complete submission.
| Quarter | Submission deadline | RC Meeting date |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 | Monday 27th March | Monday 24th April |
| Summer 2023 | Monday 12th June | Monday 10th July |
| Autumn 2023 | Monday 18th September | Monday 16th October |
| Winter 2023 | Monday 6th November | Monday 4th December |
Applications will be accepted until 5pm of the submission deadline date.
Guidance in preparing a full research application
We are keen to support researchers in submitting full and complete proposals that meet legal requirements and protect patient privacy, ultimately facilitating access to data that will result in benefit to patients.
The following resources developed by Understanding Health Data Access (HQIP) will support you as you prepare to make an application:
(Planning a Health Data Application: Questions and Information Sources)
Workshops
The NJR Research Committee delivered a half-day workshop on Monday 17th January 2022 with the aim of guiding researchers on how to develop a successful application to access NJR data. You can view the webinar here or in the embedded video below.
Following Research Committee approval of your research project
The application will be assessed by Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) Data Access Request Group (DARG), as Data Controller for NJR data.
Following approval from HQIP DARG, access will be granted to the data via the Data Access Portal.
Progress reports for the NJR Research Committee will be required at six-monthly intervals, with a final report at project completion. See template here
Publications are encouraged. Any paper/abstract utilising NJR data must be sent to research@njr.org.uk for Research Committee comment prior to submission. All outputs must follow the Standardised Acknowledgement of the National Joint Registry (NJR) guidance.
A short video on how to access and use the NJR Data Access Portal
Previous versions of all of the NJR data collection forms can be downloaded here: