The document discusses the importance of data sharing in scientific research, highlighting that publicly funded research data should be accessible as a public good. It emphasizes the need for careful planning to balance the validation of findings with ethical and legal obligations to protect sensitive information. The challenges include concerns over patenting, participant confidentiality, and expectations from funders.

1. SHAREABLE BY DESIGN
Making Research Data available for access
This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution 2.0 UK: England & Wales License
Hashtag #lshtmdata
12 November 2014

2. Data Sharing in the Sciences
•Data sharing has always taken place in some form
•Enlightenment during 17 –18thcentury built upon open debate and sharing of knowledge
•Science depends on openness and transparency to advance
–Replicate results
–Correct errors & address bia
•Negative as well as positive findings need to be in the public domain
“Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts”
Diderot & d'Alembert(1751 onwards)
“Sharing Research Data”
Fienberg et al (1985). http://books.google.co.uk/books? id=ijUrAAAAYAAJ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A9die

3. Recent Developments
“Publicly funded research data are a public good, produced in the public interest, which should be made openly available… in a timely and responsible manner”
RCUK Common Principles on Data Policy
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/research/datapolicy/
“Research data that substantiate research findings should be made available for access and use in a timely manner, within the boundaries of conditions established by contractual, legislative, ethical, or other requirements
LSHTM Research Data Management Policy. Principle 7
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/researchdataman/rdm_policy_summary.html

4. A Balancing Act
•Careful planning is necessary to enable data to be shared
•Balance obligations to:
–Enable validation & reuse of research findings
–Meet ethical & legal duty to protect personal & sensitive information
•Some, but not all data is suitable for sharing
Desire to patent research findings
Concern about low response rate
3rdparty IPR
Ethical duty to protect participant confidentiality
Meet funder obligations
Higher citation rate
Enable validation of results
against
for
Data sharing represents an ambition and a challenge