We’re delighted to launch Population Research UK’s delivery plan which sets out in detail the work we’ll do to support and strengthen the UK’s longitudinal research ecosystem.
Developed in close collaboration with the Longitudinal Population Studies (LPS) community, this plan sets out the practical steps we’ll take over the next years. It reflects extensive engagement across the sector, with insight and input from researchers, data managers, funders and infrastructure partners.
“This plan represents the collective ambition of a community committed to making longitudinal data more discoverable, accessible and usable. We’re proud of what’s been achieved together so far, and even more excited about what’s ahead.”
Nic Timpson, Co-Director, Population Research UK
Shaped by the LPS community
At the heart of our delivery plan are five strategic objectives, directly informed by consultation and built around the real-world challenges and opportunities facing the LPS community to:
- Coordinate and advocate for the LPS community
- Enhance discovery capabilities for LPS
- Streamline data access processes and mechanisms
- Facilitate linked data use
- Build capacity and skills for LPS
What we’ll deliver
To meet these objectives, we will lead and coordinate a range of activities that reflect our shared priorities:
- Ongoing community engagement as a core PRUK function
We’ll provide advocacy for the community, leading and coordinating efforts with stakeholders including government, funders, and international partners, to ensure LPS studies are better represented in the broader data ecosystem and acting as a key representative for LPS in national data initiatives like the National Data Library and Health Data Research Service.
Further key activities will include centralised listing of relevant services, training materials, commissioning of new Communities of Practice.
We’ll also organise events such as workshops, webinars, and a major conference, as well as working with external partners to promote and support LPS-related activities.
- A policy coordination secretariat to align sector-wide efforts
We’ll establish a UK-wide ‘policy exchange’ to connect policy stakeholders with LPS researchers. Our deliverables include evidence synthesis and impact metrics methodologies.
- A searchable register and UK LPS information hub to enhance discoverability
We’ll develop a searchable UK LPS register, built on AI/LLM-based search functions and a ‘minimum set’ of LPS metadata. We’ll connect multiple metadata across multiple platforms and integrate a search function for re-usable code.
- Work to simplify the LPS infrastructure landscape
We’ll simplify data access by helping studies to share their data in central repositories, including studies that currently do not share their data in centralised ways, and those nearing the end of active follow-up.
- A Secure Data Environment (SDE) training platform
We’ll create a training SDE populated with high-fidelity synthetic longitudinal data for researcher training. We’ll commission methodological work to assess data representativeness in both individual and pooled LPS samples using administrative data.
- Coordination of UK LPS training resources to build capacity across the system
We’ll work to better understand and signpost the existing UK LPS training offering and commission new training material where gaps exist. We’ll incorporate experiential and innovative approaches to pedagogy.
“This is a commitment to action. We’re focusing on the areas that matter most to researchers and data providers. The next step is to commission out the work through a combination of partnerships and open calls to the community.”
Alissa Goodman, Co-Director, Population Research UK
Join us on the journey
This plan is the result of the community’s generous contribution to our consultations, and its success depends on continued partnership.
Whether you’re a data provider, a data services provider, researcher, policymaker or funder, we invite you to explore our delivery plan and be part of the work ahead.
Throughout 2025, we will begin developing funding calls, with commissioned activities scheduled to launch in 2026.
If you’re interested in helping to shape these opportunities or plan to submit a bid, please get in touch – info@pruk.ac.uk.
