DATA-CAN and Arcturis form partnership to advance oncology RWE

The agreement aims to enhance oncology research through enriched real-world cancer datasets, supporting innovation in diagnosis and treatment.

DATA-CAN, the UK’s Health Data Research Hub for Cancer, has announced a new partnership with Arcturis to enhance the use of real-world evidence (RWE) in cancer research. This collaboration aims to curate deep, highly enriched oncology datasets by combining electronic health records with unstructured data, such as genomic biomarkers and imaging results. The datasets will be stored securely within the NHS Research Secure Data Environment (SDE), ensuring the highest standards of data privacy and security.

The partnership combines DATA-CAN’s oncology-focused health data curation network, which includes NHS organizations, clinical opinion leaders, and academic researchers across the UK, with Arcturis’ expertise in real-world data (RWD) generation and precision medicine. Hosted by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, DATA-CAN collaborates with Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), the national institute for health data science, dedicated to advancing the trustworthy use of health data to drive discoveries that improve lives. This combined effort aims to increase the availability, quality, and usability of health data for cancer research and care.

Commenting on the news, Professor Geoff Hall, Clinical Lead and Hub Director of DATA-CAN and Chief Clinical Information Officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust explained:

“DATA-CAN is thrilled to partner with Arcturis and we look forward to combining our skills and expertise to generate deep, highly enriched oncology datasets that will drive innovation in cancer research.”

The collaboration is supported by DATA-CAN’s Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) team, who emphasize the benefits for patients, the UK health system, and the wider research community. Libby Cooper, Chair of DATA-CAN’s PPIE Group, highlighted the potential impact:

“The partnership between Arcturis and DATA-CAN is really good news for patients. It means that through our analysis of data we can contribute to a faster diagnosis and better treatments for cancer patients and hopefully improve the UK’s rating for cancer care.” 

Arcturis, known for its work in multi-modal data curation, sees the partnership as an opportunity to advance the development of precision cancer therapies. Alex Snow, Chief Executive Officer of Arcturis, commented,

“We are delighted to enter this oncology data partnership with DATA-CAN, which offers substantial potential to unlock the power of anonymized patient data to support the discovery, development, and adoption of innovative, precision cancer therapies."

The datasets generated through this partnership will be curated under expert clinical oversight to ensure high-quality, clinically relevant insights. The project aligns with the mission of HDR UK to accelerate the trustworthy use of health data to improve patient outcomes. David Seymour, Director of Data Partnerships at HDR UK, remarked,

“We are delighted to see the capabilities of DATA-CAN and Arcturis come together through this partnership to build a world-leading oncology real-world data capability that will be hosted within the NHS’s Research Secure Data Environment Network. The partnership highlights the UK as a global innovation hub for medical research and innovation.”

Looking ahead, both organizations anticipate further collaborations aimed at advancing RWE studies and driving innovation in oncology research. Professor Mark Lawler, Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s University Belfast and Scientific Director of DATA-CAN, emphasized the partnership’s significance:

“Uniting our complementary skills in data curation, analytics, and real-world evidence generation provides us with significant opportunities to fast-track novel therapeutics and save lives.”