diff --git a/backend/dataset/admin.py b/backend/dataset/admin.py
index 140171494..0ecdb9a6d 100644
--- a/backend/dataset/admin.py
+++ b/backend/dataset/admin.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import resource
+# import resource
 from django.contrib import admin
 from import_export.admin import ImportExportActionModelAdmin
 from .resources import *
diff --git a/backend/dataset/serializers.py b/backend/dataset/serializers.py
index a6152f3c2..727244e20 100644
--- a/backend/dataset/serializers.py
+++ b/backend/dataset/serializers.py
@@ -11,6 +11,31 @@ class DatasetInstanceSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     class Meta:
         model = DatasetInstance
         fields = "__all__"
+        
+        
+class DatasetInstanceSerializerOptimized(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    class Meta:
+        model = DatasetInstance
+        fields = [
+            "id",
+            "instance_id",
+            "name",
+            "description",
+            "dataset_type",
+            "is_archived",
+            "public_to_managers",
+            "organisation_id",
+            "workspace_id",
+            "created_by",
+            "created_at",
+            "last_updated",
+            "file_format",
+            "file_path",
+            "size",
+            "record_count",
+            "status"
+        ]
+
 
 
 class DatasetInstanceUploadSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
diff --git a/backend/dataset/views.py b/backend/dataset/views.py
index 7e6b4227c..9a96338f1 100644
--- a/backend/dataset/views.py
+++ b/backend/dataset/views.py
@@ -244,6 +244,8 @@ def retrieve(self, request, pk, *args, **kwargs):
             ),
         ],
     )
+    
+    
     def list(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         # Org Owners and superusers see all datasets
         if request.user.is_superuser:
@@ -257,7 +259,6 @@ def list(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
             queryset = DatasetInstance.objects.filter(
                 organisation_id=request.user.organization
             ).filter(Q(public_to_managers=True) | Q(users__id=request.user.id))
-
         if "dataset_visibility" in request.query_params:
             dataset_visibility = request.query_params["dataset_visibility"]
             if dataset_visibility == "all_public_datasets":
@@ -267,18 +268,15 @@ def list(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
                     queryset = queryset.filter(public_to_managers=True)
             elif dataset_visibility == "my_datasets":
                 queryset = queryset.filter(users__id=request.user.id)
-
         # Filter the queryset based on the query params
         if "dataset_type" in dict(request.query_params):
             queryset = queryset.filter(
                 dataset_type__exact=request.query_params["dataset_type"]
             )
-
         # Serialize the distinct items and sort by instance ID
         serializer = DatasetInstanceSerializer(
             queryset.distinct().order_by("instance_id"), many=True
         )
-
         # Add status fields to the serializer data
         for dataset_instance in serializer.data:
             # Get the task statuses for the dataset instance
@@ -288,14 +286,84 @@ def list(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
                 dataset_instance_time,
                 dataset_instance_result,
             ) = get_dataset_upload_status(dataset_instance["instance_id"])
-
             # Add the task status and time to the dataset instance response
             dataset_instance["last_upload_status"] = dataset_instance_status
             dataset_instance["last_upload_date"] = dataset_instance_date
             dataset_instance["last_upload_time"] = dataset_instance_time
             dataset_instance["last_upload_result"] = dataset_instance_result
-
         return Response(serializer.data)
+    
+    
+    # def get_queryset(self):
+    def list_optimized(self, request):
+        try:
+            # Base queryset determination based on user role
+            if request.user.is_superuser:
+                queryset = DatasetInstance.objects.all()
+            elif request.user.role == User.ORGANIZATION_OWNER:
+                queryset = DatasetInstance.objects.filter(
+                    organisation_id=request.user.organization
+                )
+            else:
+                queryset = DatasetInstance.objects.filter(
+                    organisation_id=request.user.organization
+                ).filter(Q(public_to_managers=True) | Q(users__id=request.user.id))
+
+            # Apply optional filters based on query parameters
+            if "dataset_visibility" in request.query_params:
+                dataset_visibility = request.query_params["dataset_visibility"]
+                if dataset_visibility == "all_public_datasets":
+                    if (
+                        request.user.role == User.WORKSPACE_MANAGER
+                        and not request.user.is_superuser
+                    ):
+                        queryset = queryset.filter(public_to_managers=True)
+                elif dataset_visibility == "my_datasets":
+                    queryset = queryset.filter(users__id=request.user.id)
+
+            if "dataset_type" in request.query_params:
+                queryset = queryset.filter(
+                    dataset_type__exact=request.query_params["dataset_type"]
+                )
+
+            if "archived_datasets" in request.query_params:
+                archived_datasets = request.query_params["archived_datasets"] == "true"
+                queryset = queryset.filter(is_archived=archived_datasets)
+
+            # Add sorting by custom criteria
+            if (
+                "sort_type" in request.query_params
+                and request.query_params["sort_type"] == "recently_updated"
+            ):
+                queryset = queryset.order_by(F("last_updated").desc(nulls_last=True))
+            else:
+                queryset = queryset.order_by(F("instance_id").asc())
+
+            # Serialize the distinct items using the optimized serializer
+            serializer = DatasetInstanceSerializerOptimized(queryset.distinct(), many=True)
+
+            # Add additional status fields to each dataset instance
+            for dataset_instance in serializer.data:
+                (
+                    dataset_instance_status,
+                    dataset_instance_date,
+                    dataset_instance_time,
+                    dataset_instance_result,
+                ) = get_dataset_upload_status(dataset_instance["id"])
+
+                dataset_instance["last_upload_status"] = dataset_instance_status
+                dataset_instance["last_upload_date"] = dataset_instance_date
+                dataset_instance["last_upload_time"] = dataset_instance_time
+                dataset_instance["last_upload_result"] = dataset_instance_result
+
+            return Response(serializer.data, status=status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        except Exception as e:
+            return Response(
+                {"message": "An error occurred: {}".format(str(e))},
+                status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+            )
+
+
 
     @is_organization_owner
     @action(methods=["GET"], detail=True, name="Download Dataset in CSV format")