Office for Life Sciences Bulletin – 26 February 2021
OLS Introduction The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is a joint unit between the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This bulletin aims to keep the life sciences sector up to date on the latest guidance and during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, providing you with information from Government to help your members and networks prepare. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please email nita.bhanot@beis.gov.uk For any questions on the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, please contact euexit@officeforlifesciences.gov.uk
News NEW – The UK government has welcomed the European Commission's draft data adequacy decision which recognises the UK’s high data protections standards and set out that the UK’s standards are ‘adequate’. The ‘bridging mechanism’ will remain in place until June 30 or until the adequacy decisions come into effect, whichever is sooner. NEW – The Goldacre review, launched by the government on 9 February, will focus on the more efficient and safe use of health data for research and analysis for the benefit of patients and the healthcare sector. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has asked Dr Ben Goldacre to undertake this rapid review and report his findings in April. If you would like to get in touch about the review or share your experience of using health data for research, please contact goldacrereview@dhsc.gov.uk before 15 March 2021. For more information, click here. NEW – The Prime Minister, Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, announced the government’s roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions in England on Monday 22 February. The roadmap can be found in full here.