Vision of Data Sharing

Our vision is for the cancer research community to have easy access to all cancer research information to allow for:

• Open scientific inquiry;
• Diversity of analysis and opinion;
• Promotion of new research;
• The testing of new or alternative hypothesis;
• The testing of new or alternative methods of analysis;
• The confirmation of the rational of a particular course of research;
• Quick identification of potential co-researchers;
• Exploration of topics not envisioned by the initial investigators; and
• The creation of new data sets when data from multiple sources are combined

The sharing of data will thus maximise the impact of cancer research empowering scientists with all the information that they need to support the direction of research.  Our vision is being realised through the work of the following funders who have made a significant contribution in the area of data sharing.

MRC

The Medical Research Council’s Data Sharing Initiative was launched in 2001 with the aim of promoting new and extending the use of data generated by MRC-funded scientists. The MRC’s Data Sharing Initiative focuses on the preservation of data so that it can be shared and reused by the scientific community.

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Wellcome Trust

The mission of the Wellcome Trust is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. To further this mission the Wellcome Trust is working to ensure that the outputs of the research it funds are managed and used in ways that maximise public benefit. They have thus developed a data sharing policy to ensure that the data generated through their funding is available to the scientific community with as few restrictions as possible.

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BBSRC

In April 2007 the BBSRC launched its new data sharing policy that states that data generated as a result of BBSRC funding should be made available with as few restrictions as possible in a timely and responsible manner. To support their policy the BBSRC will provide scientists with support and funding to facilitate appropriate data sharing activities.

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Department of Health

The Health Technology Assessment Programme (HTA) is a programme of the NHS National Institute for Health Research that produces independent research about the effectiveness of healthcare treatments and tests for the NHS. The HTA is committed to ensuring that the data generated through its research is put to its maximum use and encourage scientists applying for grants to consider data sharing in their proposals. Furthermore they are currently developing formal policies for data sharing that will provide their researchers with clear guidelines for data sharing.

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WORD

The Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care (WORD) is a Branch of the Strategy Unit in the Health and Social Care Department of the Welsh Assembly Government. The strategic aim of WORD is to ensure that policy and practice in health and social care in Wales are underpinned by evidence, for the benefit of patients and the public. The Welsh Assembly supports the principle of the sharing of scientific information and in 2007 introduced data sharing recommendations e in their new contract for grants awarded under their Research Funding Scheme.