CHIPS Dataset (2026-current)
The CHIPS Dataset is a unique historical dataset containing comprehensive clinical and treatment information on children diagnosed with HIV who were aged <16 years at their first presentation to paediatric care in the UK and Ireland between 2000-2021. The CHIPS Dataset is derived from data collected over two decades through the Collaborative HIV Paediatric Study (CHIPS) which was the national surveillance system for paediatric HIV in the UK and Ireland between April 2000-March 2021. This longitudinal resource provides detailed follow-up data across childhood and adolescence, making it a valuable resource for research into lifecourse health.
As the cohort grows older, research priorities are shifting toward long-term health outcomes and evolving care needs, and CHIPS historical data will play an important role in future lifecourse health analyses.
With Section 251 support under Regulation 5 (England only), the CHIPS Dataset will be used to:
- Describe the characteristics and outcomes of children living with HIV who received paediatric care up to March 2021.
- Assess long-term clinical outcomes of childhood-acquired HIV and ART across the lifecourse.
- Contribute anonymised data extracts to European and global meta-analyses on paediatric HIV and antiretroviral safety.
The dataset contains identifiable, unconsented data originally submitted by NHS clinics to CHIPS under Regulation 3 of the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002. Following the closure of the surveillance study, Regulation 5 now provides the legal basis for continued processing of this information, permitting confidential patient data to be used without consent for approved medical research when obtaining consent is not reasonably practicable. The national data opt-out continues to be honoured for any patients who opted out during the active CHIPS study. If patients or clinicians wish to make a database-specific opt-out request, they can contact the CHIPS study team at chips.mrcctu@ucl.ac.uk.
CHIPS Surveillance Study (2000–2021)
Established in 2000, the CHIPS surveillance study monitored clinical care and outcomes for children living with HIV, supported NHS commissioning, and contributed to national and international research. Over more than 20 years, CHIPS data informed international clinical guidelines, underpinned public health planning, and supported major global collaborations.
The active surveillance closed in March 2021 and was replaced by CHARS (Children’s HIV and AIDS Reporting System), a secure online reporting system managed by the ISOSS team at UCL. Historical data collected during the CHIPS surveillance study now form the basis of the current CHIPS Dataset.