University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Powering Research Innovation at University Hospital Southampton with Smarter Metadata Tools
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Background
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) is a leading healthcare institution renowned for its cutting-edge research and innovation. The SETT Centre, part of the Trust’s Research & Development team, is dedicated to advancing medical science through pioneering clinical trials and technological solutions.
The Centre collaborates with academic institutions, industry partners, and healthcare providers to develop and implement state-of-the-art treatments and diagnostics. By fostering a culture of excellence and innovation, the SETT Centre plays a crucial role in translating research into practice, ultimately improving patient outcomes and shaping the future of healthcare. Their work ensures that patients benefit from the latest advancements in medical science and technology.
The Need
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) required a technical partner to develop the Andromeda platform. The primary goal was to develop a web application to enhance research capacity and support the regional Secure Data Environment (SDE) project by improving database exploration and documentation.
The partner needed to develop a scalable, bespoke system for efficient metadata extraction, cataloguing, and analysis. The current Proof of Concept (POC) model, though functional, highlighted limitations in scalability, customisation, and external deployment. Therefore, the new solution required the ability to scale effectively across the organisation, offer customisable visualisations, and ensure compatibility with external NHS Trusts involved in the SDE project.
Key requirements included a client-side deployable metadata extractor and sampler for secure, on-site data access, transferring only non-sensitive metadata to the cloud-hosted database. This approach would address information governance challenges and streamline development. The system needed to support comprehensive and beautiful metadata visualisation, cross-filtering, and ease of navigation for large databases, ensuring swift and responsive database exploration. Future-proofing the system for new metadata features and machine learning-based mapping was also essential.
Additionally, the solution had to integrate with existing documentation tools, support extensive metadata-based and search term-based filtering, and provide robust audit logging. User role differentiation for access permissions, domain tag management for filtering and colouring, and hover highlighting for detailed metadata display were crucial.
The Solution
6B discovered, designed, and developed the Andromeda web application to meet the needs of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS).
The project began with an in-depth analysis of UHS’s existing Proof of Concept (POC) and the specific challenges it faced, such as scalability, customisation, and secure external deployment. To address these challenges, 6B collaborated closely with UHS’s Research Data Science unit to design a new robust, and user-centred bespoke solution. The design process focused on user experience, ensuring swift and responsive exploration and intuitive navigation.
6B then developed a modern and interactive GUI tailored for navigating large, complex datasets. Throughout development the team conducted iterative testing and refinement phases, incorporating feedback from UHS researchers to optimise usability and performance.
Working with UHS, 6B developed a client-side deployable metadata extractor and sampler, ensuring secure, on-site data access while transferring only non-sensitive metadata to the cloud-hosted database. This approach mitigated information governance challenges and facilitated smoother development processes.
To ensure comprehensive and accurate metadata visualisation, 6B implemented advanced data analysis and visualisation techniques. This allowed the system to dynamically map database structures, enhancing the ability to quickly absorb key information and make informed decisions.
Throughout the project, 6B maintained a collaborative approach, working alongside UHS to align development with the Trust’s strategic goals. By prioritising secure, scalable, and user-centred design, 6B successfully delivered the Andromeda web application, providing UHS with a powerful tool that supports current research needs and offers flexibility for future expansion.
The Impact
The rollout of the Andromeda web application by 6B is already yielding significant benefits for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
The solution provides researchers with streamlined access to comprehensive metadata, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of data exploration and documentation. This has led to improved data-driven decision-making and optimised research processes whilst ensuring minimal disruption and maintaining stringent data governance standards.
As Andromeda continues to be implemented at NHS Trusts in England, it is expected to significantly advance research capacity, support several regional data environment projects, and ultimately contribute to better healthcare outcomes through enhanced clinical research and data management capabilities.
“Working with 6B Digital to develop Andromeda has been an absolute pleasure. In co-developing the platform, 6B took us under their wing and introduced us to their development practices to foster a highly effective collaboration. They are enthusiastic, highly capable, and were incredibly flexible as the project evolved. Working with such an adaptable and passionate team has been a delight, and we look forward to collaborating on future projects.”
– Cai Davis, Specialist Research Analyst, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust