Transforming NHS Research Through Data, AI and Collaboration

At Snowflake’s World Tour London, iCARE highlighted how secure data, AI, and collaboration drive innovation in NHS research and patient care.

The buzz of innovation filled the air at this year’s Snowflake World Tour in London, where 4500 data and AI professionals gathered to explore how technology is reshaping industries. Facilitated by Accenture & Snowflake, iCARE presented the session “How Research and NHS Are Partnering Together to Improve Patient Outcomes,” featuring Professor Erik Mayer, Director, and Ben Glampson, Deputy Director at iCARE.

The session showcased how routinely collected Electronic Patient Record data accessed via the iCARE Secure Data Environment & Digital Collaboration Space (hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London) is at the centre of the Digital Health aspirations of the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre and Paddington Life Sciences innovation district. Success, to date, has been realised through a collaborative multidisciplinary team of data engineers, data scientists, academics, clinicians, allied healthcare professionals, community partners and industry partners. iCARE is a core facility of the Imperial Biomedical Research Centre funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

The panel was hosted by Andreas Haimboeck-Tichy, Managing Director Healthcare at Accenture UK, one of Snowflake’s leading ecosystem partners. The speakers delved into how iCARE and North West London’s health data collaboration is using secure, scalable cloud technology to drive clinical and research innovation. Although Kavitha Saravanakumar, CIO & Director of Business Intelligence at the North West London ICB, was unable to attend due to illness, her work was warmly acknowledged throughout the discussion.

Turning Vision into Impact

Mayer and Glampson traced the origins of iCARE’s Secure Data Environment (SDE) — a platform that now underpins a growing number of NHS and impactful research projects across London, England and the UK. “This has been a journey,” Erik reflected. “It began before COVID-19, when we first set out to connect real-time data across multiple hospital systems. What the pandemic did was accelerate that work — it made data central to everything we do.”

That vision has since evolved into a powerful ecosystem linking Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust data with the North West London Integrated Care Board’s (ICB) Whole Systems Integrated Care (WSIC) data. Together, these partners manage population-level data for 2.8 million people, providing a foundation for data-driven decision-making and innovation in patient care.

Thanks to Snowflake’s cloud platform, implemented with support from Accenture, the iCARE SDE team can now ingest, transform, and analyse data in days rather than months. As Erik noted, “Our goal has always been to turn health and social care data into real-world impact that improves quality, safety, and the experience of patient care.”

Elizabeth Noble, Programme Manager of strategic partnerships, who was at the Snowflake World Tour and was inspired by the technological innovations that were featured at the event, noted that   while we navigate this complex landscape, it is key to work together with technology partners with expert domain knowledge and skills as well as whose values align with the core NHS values and mission. Such partnerships will help accelerate progress and implement innovative solutions that will bring real value back to NHS and patients.”

From Data to Discovery

The speakers shared a series of tangible examples of this impact. Early pilot projects used data to identify inpatients who smoke, connecting them to community cessation services and improving long-term outcomes. More recent initiatives include using environmental data from the Snowflake Marketplace to anticipate asthma flare-ups linked to weather changes, enabling hospitals to prepare for spikes in demand.

Ben described how iCARE’s integration with WSIC data enables researchers to run hundreds of projects simultaneously: “We’ve automated data pipelines, streamlined governance, and embedded strong security and ethics frameworks. Researchers can now access high-quality data safely and efficiently — without the delays of traditional data transfers.”

Pradeepa Maheshkumar, Senior Data Engineer at iCARE SDE, who also attended the panel, expressed her appreciation for the interplay between iCARE, Accenture and Snowflake: “Snowflake’s technology evolves rapidly, and our partnership with Accenture, our Snowflake technology service partner providing platform governance and security enables us to assess the needs of researchers accessing data within the iCARE SDE and ensure we leverage the most effective solutions for optimal results.” 
 
This combination of automation, transparency, and governance empowers iCARE’s model to scale efficiently.

Building Public Trust and Understanding 

A major theme of the discussion was trust, both between partners and with the public. Ben highlighted the extensive public engagement carried out across North West London, where citizens have helped shape how their health data is used. “We’ve embedded lay partners on our Data Access Committee,” he explained. “Every project is reviewed for its public benefit and communication plan.” 
Erik added that being considerate of digital literacy is key to building confidence in the use of AI and data. Working with more than 40 community partners, the team co-designed a guide to help explain AI and data use in healthcare in accessible language. “People need to understand what we mean when we say ‘AI’, otherwise the conversation leaves them behind,” he said.

Collaboration That Drives Change

Throughout the session, Andreas underscored the importance of collaboration between technology partners, healthcare organisations, and academia. Accenture’s work with iCARE Secure Data Environment and Snowflake exemplifies how this ecosystem approach can turn cutting-edge infrastructure into real healthcare improvements.

“Together, we’re showing what’s possible when technology meets purpose,” Andreas said. “This is not just about data platforms — it’s about better care, faster insights, and more empowered clinicians and researchers.” 

Looking Ahead 

As the conversation wrapped up, Erik reflected on the future of the partnership and the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI). “The next step is scaling responsibly while making sure our use of data and AI remains sustainable, ethical, and focused on improving patient outcomes,” he said. 

From predictive analytics to real-time clinical decision support, the collaboration between iCARE Secure Data Environment & Digital Collaboration Space, Accenture, and Snowflake continues to redefine what is possible for impact utilising routinely collected NHS data, with non-health related data. As Glampson put it, “The real power lies not just in the technology, but in the trust, governance, and shared purpose that underpin it.”