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Step 1: Make sure your project idea is feasible

⚠️ This is Step 1/3
One of your project team (such as the project lead) should complete this step before moving on to steps 2 and 3
1. Make sure your project is feasible
2. Apply to become an OpenSAFELY Full User or Collaborator
3. Apply to start a new project in OpenSAFELY

Before making any formal application to conduct research in OpenSAFELY, you must make sure that your idea is feasible. This is to make sure that your project idea is a good match for the data and tools available via the OpenSAFELY platform.

⚠️ Please read the information on this page carefully before continuing to the feasibility form.

How OpenSAFELY has changed

OpenSAFELY has undergone some big changes. As a result, all users – even people who have used it many times before – will be asked to go through some new or revised processes.

Following the announcement of new legal directions, the possible scope of research has widened to all aspects of healthcare. Research is no longer limited to topics related to COVID-19, as it was before.

That means that:

  • the datasets available for research have changed – this is important to anyone who has used OpenSAFELY in the past
  • we have updated our information on access to the OpenSAFELY service for Full Users and Collaborators
  • every person on each project team must complete the user application process – even people who have used OpenSAFELY before
  • every new project is recommended to go through this feasibility check, and later a formal project application

Things to consider before you go further

This is a list of the things you should consider as part of the feasibility check. We recommend you read through this checklist before you start, so that you can prepare or seek out the appropriate information.

  1. Take a look at the list of datasets available in OpenSAFELY; are they likely to meet your needs?
  2. Read our list of the software tools and infrastructure currently available in OpenSAFELY; are they appropriate for your project idea?
  3. Check if your project needs ethical approval; if it does, how and when you plan to secure it? (See our guidance on ethical approval.)
  4. Familiarise yourself with our project role definitions
  5. Ensure that at least one member of your project team has completed a Safe Researcher Training course. We accept qualifications from the Office for National Statistics and the UK Data Service.
  6. Check that the employer of the Project Lead (or employer of the supervisor of the Ph.D. student if they are the Project Lead) has a Data Sharing Framework Contract (DSFC) with NHS England.
    If you cannot find your organisation on the list, you can contact us at applications@opensafely.org.
  7. Check that at least one member of your project team has used one of the following script-based coding languages or software before: Github, Python, and/or Stata, and/or R. You’ll also need someone with experience of using Git/GitHub for version control. Experience with Docker is optional, but a helpful addition.
  8. Make sure at least one member of your project team has some experience of working with electronic health records.
  9. Familiarise yourself with the OpenSAFELY Getting Started tutorial. You don’t need to do the tutorial before your feasibility self-assessment, however it will be required before you can register with us as an OpenSAFELY user.
  10. Read through our policies for researchers; everyone in your team will be asked to adhere to them.
  11. Ensure that you are confident your project team has the time to commit to completing the project. We know this should go without saying for most researchers! But for newcomers, we don’t want to gloss over what might be a significant investment of time and effort. Make sure everyone on your team is aware of this.
  12. Confirm your computer supports access to the OpenSAFELY secure environment. Access to the TPP secure environment requires the use of VPN software that only works on Windows, Windows emulators on Linux, and Windows emulators on older Macs.  Please refer to this OpenSAFELY documentation page for more information.

If you have any questions please contact us via team@opensafely.org.

Use the feasibility self-assessment tool

This button will open a page on Jotform in a new tab. Jotform is a third party service. Data you enter into this form will only be visible to members of the OpenSAFELY team at the Bennett Institute. You should get an instant result, declaring your idea likely to be feasible or not likely to be feasible.