Yesterday [October 16th, 2025], the SAIL Databank team attended the Health and Care Research Wales Conference 2025, held at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. This annual event brought together researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and a diverse group of stakeholders under the overarching theme “Today’s research; tomorrow’s care: Celebrating 10 years of impact”.
The conference highlighted the crucial role research plays in advancing health and social care and in addressing the most pressing challenges facing society today. It also showcased the fantastic work that Health and Care Research Wales has funded over the past decade – and offered insight into its future direction.
SAIL Databank was invited to host an exhibition stand, offering a platform to showcase the integral role it plays in the Welsh research landscape. Throughout the day, the team connected with familiar collaborators and welcomed new contacts, discussing how SAIL Databank can support their work.
Sticking with the theme of the conference, it was fantastic to showcase research that has utilised SAIL over the past 10 years through our Road of Research. It was also a great opportunity to engage with attendees about the future – exploring what areas of research they would like to see more of.
The conference provided a space to discuss potential partnerships and new research avenues, reinforcing how SAIL continues to support impactful, data-driven research that improves health outcomes in Wales and beyond.
Keynote Speakers and Themes
The conference opened with a welcome by ITV News presenter Andrea Byrne, followed by an opening address by Professor Isabel Oliver, Chief Medical Officer for Wales. It was great to hear Isabel note that SAIL Databank as one of Health and Care Research Wales’ top 10 achievements over the last 10 years.
“SAIL Databank is among the richest population databanks in the world. It’s richness enables important questions to be comprehensively answered”
Plenary & Parallel Sessions
Attendees were also invited to join focused sessions on key themes, including:
- How can social care research impact policy and practice?
- How will AI make a difference for research?
- What does the investment programme mean for commercial research delivery?
- What does innovation mean for research? Doing research differently.
- What does inclusivity mean for research? Exploring health inequalities and under-representation in research.
- A 20 year career as a clinical-academic in plastic surgery – challenges and highlights
- Research impact in healthcare: What difference is research making to healthcare delivery and patient care?
The sessions sparked important conversations, reinforcing why research truly matters.
#ResearchWales25 #YmchwilCymru25
If you missed the team at the event but would like to learn more about how SAIL Databank can support your research, please reach out here.
