We provide technical, methodological and governance guidance and support in all aspects of augmenting research with record linkage.

Led by Professor John Macleod, the (£1.8m) Wellcome Trust funded PEARL team has been at the forefront of linkage methodology development for cohort studies. The team first initiated the extraction of health and administrative records of participants of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), and developed the PEARL Data Safe Haven, an ISO27001 accredited resource for secure record linkage and analysis.

PEARL team areas of work:

• Data linkage. The PEARL team extract and process linked health and social administrative records for research studies. We have utilised our e source research platform in the establishment of pipelines for the extraction of health, education, mortality and geo-spatial linkages. (See ‘linkages’ page for full details)

• Data Safe Haven. A secure resource for record linkage, data analysis and the development of research methods. PEARL’s Data Safe Haven is ISO27001 + NHS accredited, and incorporates ALSPAC’s UK Secure eResearch Platform; a secure research environment developed by the MRC Wales Farr Insititute

• Linkage & Governance Methods – we are open to collaborations in methodological research.

We currently work with the longitudinal research specialists CLOSER in the development and dissemination of linkage methodology and guidance, particularly of primary care health records. This work will encompass a case study of cross cohort analysis using primary care and education records. We are also working with the CVI (Complex Visual Impairment) Project to develop and establish record linkage for the study participants.

The methods we have developed to establish record linkage are formulated in consultation with study participants and healthcare professionals to ensure the acceptability of the linkage process.