New resource helps researchers access information on children and young people
The NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration’s (MH-TRC) Mental Health Mission (MHM) Children and Young People’s Mental Health workstream, is working with the University of Cambridge to roll out a new resource which helps researchers access information on children and young people to inform studies.
Children and Adolescents Data Resource (CADRE) links together local NHS, social services and school databases, compiling a large amount of data from different organisations, making it easier for researchers to access relevant anonymised information and healthcare practitioners to provide better care.
CADRE is currently available in Cambridgeshire and aims to expand its reach across Greater Manchester in the future. The University of Manchester hosts the Children and Young People’s Theme of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)/Office for Life Sciences Mental Health Mission (MHM); an ambitious national project aiming to transform child mental health research through developing a common digital infrastructure with the capacity to enable for the first time clinically embedded multisite or platform clinical trials, and to attract industry investment.
The NIHR MH-TRC MHM Children and Young People’s Mental Health workstream hosted a stakeholder event, organised in collaboration with University of Cambridge’s CADRE team, earlier this year.
Professor Jonathan Green, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at The University of Manchester, presented on the vision of the NIHR MH-TRC MHM. Professor Jonathan Green is also Developmental Neuroscience Programme Lead within the Mental Health Theme at NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
Professor Jonathan Green presenting at the stakeholder event
Professor Green said: “This project has the bold aim to transform clinical research in child mental health by creating a digital data platform integrated across regions; able to be used for nationwide population research and integrated platform trials.
I am delighted that we in Manchester have partnered with Cambridge to lead this exciting initiative, so needed in our field, and very excited by the progress we are already making with clinical and senior NHS colleagues in Manchester in realising these goals. The event reflected so much enthusiasm and collaboration for this across our region.
Professor Jonathan Green, Developmental Neuroscience Programme Lead within the Mental Health Theme at NIHR Manchester BRC
The event began with a welcome speech from Dr Roshelle Ramkisson, CADRE Greater Manchester Lead, who gave an overview of which organisations are interested in providing their data to CADRE Greater Manchester.
Dr Ramkisson said: “During the stakeholder event, we were thrilled by the enthusiasm across the system and the collective voice calling for greater insights into our communities’ needs.
“By leveraging data-driven approaches, we can more precisely understand the complexities and interactions of children and adolescents’ mental health across health, education, and local authorities. The opportunities presented by advancements in genetics, technology, and AI are immense.
“In Greater Manchester, this work is warmly welcomed, and the engagement through our recent event has solidified our partnerships. Implementing CADRE will enable us to deliver targeted and effective solutions.”
Dr Anna Moore, Assistant Professor in Child Psychiatry and Medical Informatics and CADRE Principal Investigator at the University of Cambridge, provided an overview of the data resource.
Individual Manchester-based MHM programmes are closely integrated with the work programmes in Manchester BRC’s Mental Health Theme.