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: Gareth.knight@lshtm.ac.uk researchdatamanagement@lshtm.ac.uk

Twitter: @gknight2000