The NILS-RSU (Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study Research Support Unit) supports researchers using the NILS and is based within the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), Belfast. The team is led by its Director, Dr Ian Shuttleworth. Data access is provided in the safe setting at the Unit.

The NILS provides the largest proportional sample of the three LSs, at 28% of the Northern Ireland population. Currently there are around 500,000 members in the Study. The dataset is created and maintained by a team at NISRA. The NILS links health data to census returns and administrative data for vital events, demographic and migration events, as well as property datasets.

In recent years data from the 1981 and 1991 censuses were added to the NILS, so that the data now provide up to 30 years followup. The data can be linked to other health data, such as prescribing data, or to researchers own datasets as required for specific projects.

For more information about NILS-RSU please visit their website.

If you are interested in using the NILS or any of the LSs please contact us