Overview of LSHTM's approach to complying with EPSRC data management requirements, focussed on security requirements. Presented at Glasgow University on May 8th 2014
1. Complying with EPSRC Policy:
An LSHTM Case Study
Gareth Knight
Project Manager
LSHTM Research Data Management Service
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
UK: England & Wales License
8th May 2014
DCC Workshop:
Institutional compliance with EPSRC Policy Framework
3. 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....
5. 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_sharing
http://www.ico.org.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/topic_guides/anonymisation
7. 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.