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Update on the Implementation of BBSRC Data Sharing Policy. David McAllister Research, Innovation & Skills BBSRC. “ Sharing Research Data: Pioneers, Policies and Protocols” 13 March 2009. Background to Data Sharing Policy. Introduced in April 2007
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Update on the Implementation ofBBSRC Data Sharing Policy David McAllister Research, Innovation & Skills BBSRC “Sharing Research Data: Pioneers, Policies and Protocols” 13 March 2009
Background to Data Sharing Policy • Introduced in April 2007 • Complements existing safeguards in scientific best practice • Need for curation of research data (10 years) • Recognises BBSRC’s leadership role in responding to changing biosciences
Biosciences are Changing • BBSRC sponsors wide range of research which generates large data sets • Increasingly high throughput • Multi/inter-disciplinary • Data can be important for wider community, leads to new biological understanding • Data mining is increasingly important
Identification of a chemical probe for NAADP by virtual screening Naylor et al Nature Chemical Biology (22 Feb 2009), doi: 10.1038/nchembio.150 A recent example…
Policy Context • BBSRC is one of a number of life science funders • BBSRC does not own data outputs • These lie with institutions • BBSRC has a fundamental interest in value for money in investments • Maximum impact (with excellent science) • Essential for continued success in leveraging funds for biosciences from Science Budget
BBSRC’s Position • Data sharing should be: • Science-driven • Community-led • Cost-effective • Data sharing is separate from long-term archiving • Data sharing should be practiced across the entirety of BBSRC science • Not just traditionally high-data areas • IP and data sharing need to be tensioned • Enabling the former should not disrupt the latter
Policy Statement BBSRC: • Expects data generated to be made available with as few restrictions as possible, in a timely manner • Not later than publication of main findings • Be in line with current best practice • Not be unduly delayed by IP/commercialisation • Recognises that different research areas will require different approaches • Recognises importance of data quality and providence • Appropriate metadata and standards http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/publications/policy/data_sharing_policy.html
Data Sharing Mechanisms • Where established community resources exist, use them • Where they don’t… • Seek to create one • Share data via local arrangements • Local website hosting • Access on request • BBSRC will provide funds (through grants) to allow data sharing
Data Sharing Statements • Data areas and types • Volume, type and content • Standards and metadata • Relationship to other available data • Secondary use • Further intended/forseeable users for dataset(s) • Methods for data sharing • Access mechanisms • Proprietary data • Any restrictions • Timeframe for public release • Format of final datasets
Data Sharing and Peer Review • All applicants are expected to comment upon data sharing intentions • Can request additional (justified) resources to support data sharing plan • Data Sharing Statements are peer reviewed • Are the applicants’ intentions appropriate? • Applicants will report against stated data sharing intentions after completion of grant
Assessment of Data Statements • Proportionate • Assessed separately from scientific excellence • Should contribute to the assessment of the overall credibility of an application • Peer review, rather than BBSRC review
Monitoring i • Final reporting on awarded grants • BBSRC-sponsored Institutes will have data sharing statements attached to their strategic programme grants (ISPG) • Data Sharing Monitoring Group
Monitoring ii • Community has, in general, responded well • Disparity in quality of responses, dependent on • Research area • Existing data sharing experience • Few financial requests to support data-sharing activities
Future Challenges • How can success/impact of policy be measured? • How will it affect research behaviour? • Culture change • Improved crafting of grants • How is ‘best practice’ interpreted by reviewers across disciplines? • Is data sharing suitably supported financially?
Conclusions • Still fairly early in the life-cycle of the policy to make concrete conclusions; but… • Community acceptance appears to be high • Increasing awareness of the benefits of sharing data (and associated metadata) • Will become more important as ‘large data’ continues to increase in importance
Any Questions…? david.mcallister@bbsrc.ac.uk http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/publications/policy/data_sharing_policy.html Chief Executive’s blog: http://blogs.bbsrc.ac.uk/