Sharing research data to improve public health

"As funders of public health research, we need to ensure that research outputs are used to maximise knowledge and potential health benefits. In turn, the populations who participate in research, and the taxpayers who foot the bill, have the right to expect that every last ounce of knowledge will be wrung from the research....[T]his culture has yet to be widely embraced by the public health research community. Much of the infrastructures, technical standards, and incentives that are needed to support data sharing are lacking, and these data can hold particular sensitivities. And some researchers are reluctant to share data. Too often, data are treated as the private property of investigators who aim to maximise their publication record at the expense of the widest possible use of the data. This situation threatens to limit both the progress of this research and its application for public health benefit....In May, 2010, the Wellcome Trust and the Hewlett Foundation convened a workshop in Washington, DC, to explore how funders could address these issues....The funders represented in Washington committed to work together to increase the availability of data generated by their funded research, subject to appropriate safeguards. Consensus crystallised around a series of high-level principles and goals for advancing this vision (panel). So far, 17 funding organisations have signed up to the statement...."