Crowning achievement for SAIL Databank as Queen’s Anniversary Prize is bestowed at Royal reception

Swansea University has been awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition for harnessing public data to improve population health and wellbeing through its world-renowned SAIL Databank, which is funded by Health and Care Research Wales.

The Prize was presented to Swansea University’s Chancellor Dame Jean Thomas, Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Boyle and Professor Ronan Lyons by Queen Camilla and the Duchess of Gloucester at ceremony held at Buckingham Palace on 22 February 2024.

Healthcare professionals and data scientists are now able to carry out robust research using SAIL’s comprehensive data about the Welsh and UK population data. Sitting within the University’s Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, SAIL - Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank funded by Health and Care Research Wales and the ESRC - brings together, links and analyses data from multiple sources to deliver population-level insights for government and policymakers. 

First awarded in 1994, the Prizes are granted every two years and recognise outstanding work by UK colleges and universities which demonstrates excellence and innovation and delivers real benefit to the wider world.

Director of Health and Care Research Wales, Professor Kieran Walshe, said: “On behalf of Health and Care Research Wales, I am delighted that the work of the SAIL team has been recognised through this prestigious award.  SAIL Databank has received funding from Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales and its predecessor organisations since 2006, and we are proud to be able to provide continued support and partnership for the benefit of researchers all over the UK.”

In the 15 years since SAIL was founded, its achievements include:

• Providing wide-ranging Covid-19 research and fast-response, data-driven policy intelligence for the Welsh and UK governments;
• Performing as the national data linkage and access system for all public data in Wales, securely curating data from every sector and more than 500 organisations;
• Providing data linkage and banking services for many global initiatives, including shared data from over 30 countries in support of the International Covid-19 Data Alliance initiatives;
• Enhancing the evidence base for policymakers, which helps them to understand the relationships between their service provisions to improve people’s lives.

Professor Boyle said: “We are delighted that Swansea University has once again been awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize; the highest national honour in UK further and higher education and a true reflection of the outstanding research by our colleagues at SAIL.

“To win a second Prize – in successive submission rounds – is both a rare and remarkable achievement, which highlights the considerable public benefit of our world-class research and innovation activity.”