Spotlight on CRIS, our Research Database | News

The C&I Research Database, sometimes referred to as the Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) database, enables safe and anonymous research to help us to improve the treatment of mental health conditions across the Trust. 

It has been used at C&I for 10 years and continues to allow the Trust to make a real and positive difference to future treatments and care. 

Developed and run in partnership with researchers at University College London (UCL), the database takes electronic health records and removes all identifiable information, such as NHS numbers, names, exact birth dates, and addresses, which could reveal someone's identity. This means that the database contains accurate medical records, such as assessments and progress notes, which are never personally identifiable.

CRIS helps us to look at real life situations on a large scale, meaning that it is easier for researchers to spot patterns and trends, like what treatments work for some and not for others. 

Researchers must apply to use the database and all projects must be population-based and for patient benefit. For instance, a project might look at links between family history and particular conditions. For this kind of research, the researchers won't know who any service user is, and so service users will not be approached for their permission.

Researchers can be clinicians and staff from C&I or other NHS Trusts, as well as researchers from UCL and other research organisations.