ScienceBank Data Sharing Community Mission

The ScienceBank Data Sharing Community provides a transparent, consistent and auditable route for researchers to request access to confidential research data that cannot be openly published. We protect data subjects, data originators and originating institutions through legally binding agreements, while making restricted data easier to find and responsibly reuse.

Aims

Enable responsible reuse of confidential research data that cannot be openly published. Provide a transparent, consistent and auditable process for requesting access. Protect data subjects, data originators and originating institutions through legally binding agreements. Reduce the administrative burden on originating universities by standardizing intake, review and documentation. Support reproducibility and new research by making the existence of, and route to, restricted data clear to the research community.

Scope

In scope

1- Intake and review of data access applications from researchers.

2- Coordination of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) issued by the university where the data originated.

3- Recording of decisions, agreements, access periods and conditions.

4- Communication between applicants, the editor and the originating institution.

5- Datasets from all disciplines.

Out of scope

1- Publication of manuscripts, datasets, preprints or reviews.

2- Peer review of research articles.

3- DOI registration for submissions.

4- Hosting or long-term storage of the confidential data, data remains with the originating institution and is transferred directly under its own security procedures.

5- Open-access datasets, which should be deposited in an open repository.

This community does not publish content and does not run peer review of research articles. Instead, each data access application is reviewed by the community editor, who checks that the request is complete, that the stated purpose is legitimate, and that the applicant is willing to sign the NDA issued by the originating university. The originating institution makes the final decision on whether access is granted, and its conditions apply.

Researchers apply to access a dataset by submitting a data access application to this community. Applications should include:

1. The applicant's name, affiliation and contact details.
2. The dataset requested and the originating university.
3. A description of the intended research use and why the data is needed.
4. The requested access period.
5. Confirmation that the applicant will sign the NDA issued by the originating university.

Applications are reviewed by the editor, who coordinates the NDA with the originating university and records the decision, agreement, access period and conditions. Approved data is transferred directly by the originating institution under its own security procedures. ScienceBank does not host or store the data.

For questions about data access applications, write to the community editor or contact edops@sciencebank.com.