ONS Research Excellence award win for UWE Bristol data research group
UWE Bristol’s Data Research, Access, and Governance Network (DRAGoN) has been honoured with the Organisational Excellence Award at the 2024 Office of National Statistics (ONS) Research Excellence Awards.
The award recognises DRAGoN's groundbreaking contributions to UK data services, particularly in developing innovative datasets, tools, and approaches to data research and governance.
Led by Professor Felix Ritchie, the team has made significant strides in transforming national data management through critical projects such as Wage and Employment Dynamics (WED) and Semi-Automated Checking of Research Output (SACRO).
The judges specifically commended DRAGoN's pioneering work in Trusted Research Environments, highlighting the team's ability to set best practices for secure digital research spaces. Their projects, including the Future Data Service Fellowships and ODYSSEY Project, demonstrate a vast impact and comprehensive approach to improving data infrastructure and professional development in the field.
Professor of Applied Economics within the College of Business and Law at UWE Bristol, Felix Ritchie said: “This is a great achievement for the whole team. DRAGoN has been a significant actor in the development of the UK and international data landscape for many years, leading the world in theories of confidential data management, protocols, operating guides and software tools that directly affect research capability across health and social sciences. We work in the background and the researchers which depend on our work rarely notice it, so I’m very pleased with this wider recognition of the team’s efforts.”
DRAGoN has been at the forefront of developing national and international training programs around data management, ensuring the highest standards in data access and management. The team's interdisciplinary expertise has positioned them as leaders in driving innovation and efficiency in data research and governance.
For more information about DRAGoN, click here.
Related news
25 November 2025
UWE Bristol experts join film Q&A exploring music and melodrama
Academics will take part in the Cary Comes Home Festival, with a post-screening Q&A exploring music, melodrama and emotional storytelling in classic cinema.
17 November 2025
Urgent reform needed to support ambulance-delivered end of life care, study finds
More than three quarters (78 per cent) of paramedics sometimes fear doing the wrong thing when caring for people in the last year of life, new research has found.
13 November 2025
Bristol’s screen industry experiences “boom-and-bust cycle” after post-pandemic recovery, new research from UWE Bristol finds
New research from UWE Bristol provides detailed insight into Bristol's screen sector.
13 November 2025
New AI research to revolutionise animal welfare
A UWE Bristol research project will combine behavioural science and AI to create technology that understands not only what animals do, but how they feel.
10 November 2025
Lessons from Low Traffic Neighbourhoods will drive better public engagement, study finds
Lessons from Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have informed a new toolkit to improve engagement with the public on challenging local street issues.
06 November 2025
First-of-its-kind study aims to help more people spend their final days at home
A new study will explore how architectural design could support end-of-life care in domestic settings.
29 October 2025
UWE Bristol academic unveils breakthrough in energy-efficient AI at NATO science forum
Dr Jonathan Lancelot has developed a new form of AI that could transform how intelligent machines operate in space, defence, and remote environments.
15 October 2025
UK food needs radical transformation on scale not seen since Second World War, new report finds
A new report from the Agri-Food for Net Zero Network+ finds urgent action on food is needed if the UK is to reboot its flagging economy, save the NHS billions, ensure national food security, and meet climate commitments.
07 October 2025
Academic playing role in project to find hidden graves in Mexico using drone technology
A UWE Bristol lecturer is playing a part in a project using drone technology to locate concealed graves in Mexico.
01 October 2025
New funding for researchers to develop trustworthy clinical AI for assessing brain activity
Researchers have received funding from UK Research and Innovation to help bring their innovative brain-monitoring AI technology closer to real-world use.
29 September 2025
Smartphone use hitting struggling pupils hardest, major study finds
Young people struggling with their studies at school are much more likely to have negative experiences on their smartphones than their better performing peers, a major new study has found.
16 September 2025
Dedicated liaison roles ‘instrumental’ for police forces to build trust with sex workers, research finds
A new study from UWE Bristol researchers has found that a dedicated liaison officer could help rebuild trust between the police and sex workers.