Kate O'Sullivan | Average reading time 4 minutes
11 Aug 2026
The International Population Data Linkage Network (IPDLN) Conference brings together data linkage professionals from across the world. Discover key insights from the conference in this blog by Kate O'Sullivan, RDS Chief Data Officer.
When I arrived at the International Population Data Linkage Network (IPDLN) Conference in Rotterdam in July, I expected to spend most of my time immersed in discussions about sensitive data research, specifically the operations, data provisioning and information governance related to Trusted Research Environments (TREs) - and I did.
Many of the sessions I attended explored developments in infrastructure, emerging technologies and software improvements across data indexing, linkage and access. Underpinning all of this was a dedication to the strong information governance practices that facilitate sensitive data research. Collectively, these are the unseen building blocks that make trusted research possible.
The benefit of attending international conferences like IPDLN is that I left thinking less about individual technical solutions and more about how organisations work together to make those solutions usable in practice. Without good collaboration, the ability to undertake vital research using sensitive data is severely restricted.
One of the real benefits of attending IPDLN was the opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the UK, Europe and international community: to learn more about different TRE service providers and see the outcomes of researcher analyses that use these services.
It was encouraging to see strong representation from Scottish partners, including ADR Scotland, the Scottish Safe Haven Network, EPCC and others, all contributing to conversations about the future of secure sensitive data to deliver research that benefits the public. While each organisation brings its own expertise and perspective, there was a clear sense that we're all working towards many of the same goals.
As someone who tends to focus on practical improvements to operating TREs, and the real-world experiences of researchers trying to access sensitive data, conferences can sometimes feel heavy on ideas and light on action.
IPDLN, as it is every two years, was different. The conversations weren't about adopting the latest technology for its own sake; they were about solving common problems. How do we build infrastructure that scales? How do we improve linkage quality? How do we create governance processes that enable, rather than inhibit, research while maintaining public trust? These are tangible challenges with tangible consequences.
The research presentations I attended reinforced why these discussions matter. Seeing researchers use linked datasets to answer important questions across many disciplines was a reminder that robust infrastructure and the safe provisioning of sensitive data are the foundations that allow impactful research to happen. Good infrastructure should become almost invisible, allowing researchers to focus on generating evidence that improves services and the public’s wellbeing.
Perhaps the strongest takeaway for me and my own research interests was how closely the conference themes reflected the conclusions of my recently concluded DARE UK TREvolution Early Adopter project, PANORAMA. I presented at IPDLN on the outcomes of that work, shifting the conversation from whether organisations can technically connect, to how organisations operate an ongoing, persistent federation in a trustworthy, safe and secure way.
Across multiple sessions, there was a consistent emphasis on moving beyond discussing federation as an aspiration and towards operationalising it. The focus was on common standards, interoperable infrastructure, trusted governance and sustainable operating models. Federation is something that organisations are actively working out how to put into practice – and I am really excited to see how my emerging operationalisation framework, known as TREATy, will be used by UK and international networks to help them to create and maintain an operational federation.
Seeing this interest in TREATy was reassuring because it reflects the direction RDS is already taking within Scotland with our delivery partners. Rather than chasing individual technologies or isolated solutions, we're investing in the capabilities that support long-term collaboration: trustworthy, solutions-focussed partnerships that allow organisations to work together effectively and support research and innovation that improves the outcomes for the people of Scotland.
Conferences should leave you with ideas you can act on, not just notes you can file away. For me, IPDLN reinforced that our direction of travel is the right one. The challenge now isn't deciding whether we should move towards more federated, collaborative models of data access, but how to undertake the work of making them practical, sustainable and trusted.
In many ways, the most valuable part of IPDLN wasn't discovering something completely new. It was seeing that many organisations around the world are converging on the same conclusions. The conversations happening internationally closely mirror the challenges – and opportunities – RDS is addressing within Scotland, and I look forward to continuing to work with our partners to improve Scotland’s research data systems.
Look out for our five-year strategy later in the year, which will go into more detail about how RDS and our partners will work together to make this a reality.
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