Bringing linked data on cohorts to the ADR UK community: Why the Centre for Longitudinal Studies is supporting the ADR UK Conference 2025
Categories: Research using linked data, Blogs, Events, Conferences, ADR Wales, YDG Cymru, ADR UK Partnership
29 August 2025
This blog, written by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), explores why they’re proud to support the ADR UK Conference 2025 and highlights the unique value of linking cohort and administrative data for research and policy.
Who are CLS and what role do they play in the ADR UK community?
The Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), based at the UCL Social Research Institute, is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and is home to a unique series of UK national cohort studies. These studies are nationally representative and follow multiple generations of people throughout their lives.
Our cohorts include the 1958 National Child Development Study, 1970 British Cohort Study, Next Steps, Millennium Cohort Study, and the Early Life Cohort Feasibility Study. Most began at birth or in the first year of life, while Next Steps started during adolescence.
By collecting information from the same people over time, we create powerful resources for research and policy development. For more than 60 years, evidence from our studies has helped shape the world we live in. We collect data through surveys and bio-samples and enhance these datasets by linking them with administrative records and geo-environmental data.
A range of linked health data for England and Wales is securely available for all cohorts via the UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration, including Hospital Episode Statistics, mental health data, cancer data, and more. Linked education data is also available through the UK Data Service, such as the National Pupil Database for the Millennium Cohort Study and Next Steps, and Student Loans Company data for Next Steps. Some English (in the form of Hospital Episode Statistics), Scottish, and Welsh linked health data can also be accessed via the UK Data Service. The Millennium Cohort Study is additionally available through the SAIL Databank for linkage with Welsh health and education records.
Why link administrative data to cohort studies?
Linking administrative data with cohort studies offers a unique opportunity to produce high-quality, robust, and impactful research. Cohorts provide rich life course data on mechanisms (e.g. environments and behaviours) that administrative data alone cannot capture, enabling complementary analyses and new insights for research and policy.
For example, a recent CLS analysis used detailed information from the Millennium Cohort Study on children’s home environments. By linking this data to the National Pupil Database, researchers showed how damp and overcrowding in the home were associated with increased school absences and lower performance in national exams during compulsory education (see Presentation 195 on the ADR UK Conference 2025 programme).
From a methodological perspective, linkage allows researchers to take advantage of rich, individual-level information available in cohort studies—such as socioeconomic indicators and self-reported health—that is often missing from administrative datasets. For instance, cohort data can help address residual confounding in administrative data (see Presentation 290).
Given the complementary nature of cohorts and administrative data, and the advantages of combining them at a population level, we are also working to embed cohorts within whole-population datasets. These include Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO), created by the Department for Education (DfE) and developed with ADR UK support, and Education and Child Health Insights from Linked Data (ECHILD), a flagship ADR UK dataset developed by UCL, DfE, and NHS England.
Why is CLS proud to be a Silver Sponsor of the ADR UK Conference 2025?
We greatly value and support the groundbreaking work of ADR UK and its critical role in ethically and securely unlocking access to administrative data for research that benefits the public. We are proud to help bring together the ADR UK community to celebrate achievements, share successes, and support one another in accessing and using administrative data.
Why the ADR UK Conference 2025 is a must-attend event
ADR UK is a strategically important partnership, essential for bringing together researchers and government to enable access to administrative data for public benefit. The ADR UK Conference 2025 brings together a wealth of knowledge from researchers, policymakers, and data professionals.
It’s an essential forum for learning about administrative data resources and their use in impactful research, as well as advancing good practice in linkage methods, ethics, governance, and training. It’s also the perfect opportunity to make new connections and develop ideas for future research projects and collaborations.
Join CLS at the ADR UK Conference 2025
We’re excited to attend the ADR UK Conference 2025 and share the rich potential of our cohort studies and linked administrative data.
CLS researchers will be giving a number of presentations, and we’ll have an exhibition stand—come and say hello!
You can also keep up to date with our latest data releases, linked data, training events, research, and other news via LinkedIn, Bluesky, and our email newsletters.
Make sure to also follow the ADR UK Conference Bluesky and X accounts for all relevant updates.
Explore the full ADR UK Conference 2025 programme
The ADR UK Conference 2025 will be a key event for the data research community, bringing together experts, policymakers, and innovators to explore the future of administrative data research. To plan your visit and discover the full range of keynotes, workshops, and panels:
