NJR supported research
requests
As the largest registry of hip, knee, ankle, elbow and shoulder joint surgery procedures in the world, National Joint Registry data presents an unparalleled opportunity for research. Our strategy is to make data widely available to the research community to further the understanding of joint diseases and the determinants of the outcome of these common procedures. We are engaged in an active research programme and welcome external requests that will maximise the research potential of this resource.
Before submitting your request
Please review: NJR Portfolio of Research approved by the Research Committee for any potential overlap.
Requests for access to the dataset should fit within one of the priority thematic areas:
• Device and technology assessment
• Patient outcomes, safety, & risk management
• Health economics & value for money
• Surgeon education & training
• Patient information & shared decision-making
• Disease diagnosis and prognosis
• Disease causation, prevention & treatment
• Injury or trauma in the setting of joint replacement
• Healthy development and ageing in patients with joint disease and replacement
The first step for all research projects is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). These can be submitted at any time by completion of this form and returning it to research@njr.org.uk
An Expression of Interest form can be submitted at any time and does not need to be submitted in alignment with the submission dates listed below.
If you are planning to submit a grant application that uses NJR data, an Expression of Interest form for the project must be submitted to the NJR Research Committee and an ‘approval in principle’ response received, prior to submission of the grant application to the funding body.
The NJR Research Committee will endeavour to respond to all EOIs within one month of receipt.
If your EOI is approved you will be invited to submit a full application and sent the relevant forms (Data Access Request Form – DARF) and guidance documents. Please ensure you read the NJR Cost Recovery Policy. If you have any questions about the research category for your project, please email research@njr.org.uk
Full research applications are reviewed at quarterly Research Committee meetings. Please take note of the deadlines below to allow adequate time to prepare a complete submission.
Applications will be accepted until 5pm on the submission deadline date.
| Quarter | Submission deadline | RC Meeting date |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Monday 2 February | Monday 02 March |
| Summer 2026 | Tuesday 12 May | Tuesday 9 June |
| Autumn 2026 | Friday 7 August | Friday 4 September |
| Winter 2026 | Tuesday 17 November | Tuesday 15 December |
| Spring 2027 | Tuesday 16 Feb | Tuesday 16 March 27 |
Guidance in preparing a full research application
We are keen to support researchers in submitting full and complete proposals that meet legal requirements and protect patient privacy, ultimately facilitating access to data that will result in benefit to patients.
The following resources developed by Understanding Health Data Access (HQIP) will support you as you prepare to make an application:
(Planning a Health Data Application: Questions and Information Sources)
Workshops
The NJR Research Committee delivered a half-day workshop on Monday 17 January 2022 with the aim of guiding researchers on how best to develop a successful application to access NJR data. You can view the webinar here or in the embedded video below.
Following Research Committee approval of your research project
The application will be assessed by Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) Data Access Request Group (DARG), as Data Controller for NJR data.
Following approval from HQIP DARG, access will be granted to the data via the Data Access Portal.
Progress reports for the NJR Research Committee will be required at six-monthly intervals, with a final report at project completion. See template here
Publications are encouraged. Any paper/abstract utilising NJR data must be sent to research@njr.org.uk for Research Committee comment prior to submission. All outputs must follow the Standardised Acknowledgement of the National Joint Registry (NJR) guidance.
A short video on how to access and use the NJR Data Access Portal
Previous versions of all of the NJR data collection forms can be downloaded here: