Privacy-preserving record linkage (PPRL) workshop - 3/4 June 2025

Record linkage is the process of identifying records that refer to the same real-world entities (often individuals) across two or more databases. The main aspect that makes record linkage challenging is the lack of unique entity identifiers (such as NHS numbers) available in all the databases to be linked. Therefore, the personal details of individuals, such as their names, addresses, and dates of birth (commonly known as quasi-identifiers) are used to compare and link records. Such an approach will, however, be challenged by data quality (erroneous, missing, and out-of-date values) and privacy regulations (which limit or prohibit the exchange of personal data). To overcome the second challenge, privacy-preserving record linkage (PPRL) has seen increasing interest across a variety of domains in the past three decades.

Workshop Overview

The workshop will run over two days; attendees will have the option to attend either Day 1, or Day 2 or both days. Participants will learn about the concepts, methods, and challenges of privacy-preserving record linkage (PPRL), and hear from experts in the domain about state-of-the-art research, practical real-world applications of PPRL, as well as future directions.

Day One - 3 June

The first day will have four tutorial style presentations, focusing on the general concepts of the privacy-preserving record linkage (PPRL) process, describing key PPRL protocols and techniques, and highlighting the limitations and vulnerabilities of existing PPRL methods. These presentations will be given by Professor Peter Christen and Professor Rainer Schnell.

Day Two - 4 June

On the second day, delegates will be asked to choose either Stream 1 or Stream 2:

• Stream 1, will include practical sessions where participants will be able to work with simple Python-based PPRL programs (provided to participants) to explore PPRL methods using small publicly available example databases. 
• Or they can select Stream 2, where there will be a mix of presentations by researchers and practitioners from organisations who are employing PPRL methods. A detailed timetable for Stream 2 is to be confirmed.

The speakers who will be joining us for Day 2 include: Dr Charini Nanayakkara and Ms Sumayya Ziayad from the Australian National University and  Josie Plachta and Leah Maizey from ONS. We are also delighted that Professor James Boyd from La Trobe University, Australia will be delivering an online research talk.

We end the workshop with a combined round table discussion and Q&A session.

Delivery

This in-person workshop will be based on-campus at the University of Edinburgh, within the recently opened Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Located in central Edinburgh, it is ideally located for both Waverley Train Station and to get a tram back to Edinburgh Airport. Being located centrally, ensures attendees will have the choice of many hotels being close by, including Ten Hill Place Hotel (owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh) and the University of Edinburgh's Scott Hotel, KM Hotel and The Scholar Hotel.

Speakers and Programme

The full programme for the Privacy-preserving record linkage workshop can be read here.

We are delighted to confirm that our speakers include Professor James Boyd, Dr Charini Nanayakkara, Sumayya Ziyad, Josie Plachta and Leah Maizey in addition to our keynote speakers Prof Peter Christen and Prof Rainer Schnell.

Full details on our speakers can be found here.

Applications

The number of participants for both days of the workshop will be capped. Applicants for Stream 1 (Day 2) are expected to have prior experience of quantitative data analysis and preferably experience using Python (or are willing and able to gain some basic Python knowledge prior to the workshop).

Registration

To register and book your place on this FREE workshop, please complete this Registration Form by 20 May (https://forms.office.com/e/iXmQMFXkuU) and our Training Manager will contact you to confirm a place has been reserved for you.

Enquiries

If you have any questions please email: scadr@ed.ac.uk with the header 'PPRL Workshop'.