Complying with EPSRC Policy:An LSHTM Case Study
Gareth KnightProject Manager
LSHTM Research Data Management Service
This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution 2.0
UK: England & Wales License
8th May 2014DCC Workshop:
Institutional compliance with EPSRC Policy Framework
EPSRC Principle 2“EPSRC recognises that there are legal, ethical and commercial constraints on release of research data.”“To ensure that the research process (including the collaborative research process) is not damaged by inappropriate release of data, research organisation policies and practices should ensure that these constraints are considered at all stages in the research process”
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/about/standards/researchdata/Pages/principles.aspx
Nature of Research Projects
Involve Collaboration
• Each institution contributes staff time, data, or other resources
• Difficult to split data into institutional components ‐require multiple permissions to share
Take place in different locations
• Each country has different legal requirements & checks
• Require government permission –gov. as a rights holder
Involve research participants
• Participant consent must be obtained
• Security measures must be apply to meet Data Protection Act 1998
Take place over many years
• Collaboration extends beyond funding period
• Require consortium agreement for project & post‐project use
Research projects often....
RDM Support Approach
Identify & raise awareness of best practice
Promote existing resources
Summarise information
Provide local examples
To Share or not to Share:An existing resource
1. Is the Sharing justified?• What benefits will it provide?• What are the risks associated with sharing data?
2. Do you have the ability to share?• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)• Participant Consent• Other obligations, e.g. confidentiality
3. Are there any conditions associated with sharing?• What measures need to be in place to protect
data? (e.g. record access requests, specific use only)
The ICO publish several guides on data sharing & security useful for researchers.
http://www.ico.org.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/topic_guides/data_sharinghttp://www.ico.org.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/topic_guides/anonymisation
InstitutionalRDM Resources
RDM Site & Policy
Institutional DM Plan
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/researchdataman/
http://blogs.lshtm.ac.uk/rdmss/outputs/rdplan-info/
Data Repository (WIP)
Sample Data Transfer Agreement
http://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/612422/
Final thoughts• EPSRC principles inform good practice & provide baseline for
evaluation• Responsible data sharing needed – balance security and
sharing obligations• Researchers know their research topic – need practical help
with the technical and legal side• A lot of information already available (ICO, UKDS, Clinical
Trials) – need to present it in easy‐to‐read form• Effectiveness of communication ‐ PIs prefer one‐to‐one advice,
project staff enrol on training courses.
Did someone mention lunch?
http://blogs.lshtm.ac.uk/rdmss/http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/researchdataman/
Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Twitter: @gknight2000
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