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Writing an NIH Data Management & Sharing Plan

Guidance, considerations, tips, and resources to write a competitive DMS Plan for your NIH proposal

Guidance

DMS Plan Section Instructions

Describe what standards, if any, will be applied to the scientific data and associated metadata (i.e., data formats, data dictionaries, data identifiers, definitions, unique identifiers, and other data documentation).

Consult the Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity Announcement/Request for Applications, as they may include more specific requirements than the DMS Policy. 

 

Check for more specific guidance from the appropriate ICO. For example, NINDS has provided a list of recommended data standards at https://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/preparing-your-application/ninds-data-sharing-information-applicants-and-awardees. A list of ICO specific policies is available at https://sharing.nih.gov/other-sharing-policies/nih-institute-and-center-data-sharing-policies, though updated guidance may still be in development.

Sample Responses

This study will generate multiple streams of data, which will be managed according to the following standards:


We use the MIQE Guidelines: Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2008.112797


We use the guidelines and data quality measures endorsed by the ENCODE Consortium & Data Coordination Center. See https://www.encodeproject.org/data-standards/


For fluorescence microscopy data, we use the 3D Microscopy Metadata Standards (3D-MMS; https://doryworkspace.org/metadata).


We attempt to stay current with the implementation of the ACT (Accrual to Clinical Trials Network Repository) ontology for metadata organization. Link to github:

https://github.com/dbmi-pitt/ACT-Network/tree/master/ontology/ACTOntologyV4.0


We use the DICOM standards for medical images. USP<823> requirements in radiopharmaceutical production: https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp/document/our-work/chemical-medicines/water_mark-_footnote_usp32-nf27_chapter_823.pdf


International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS Data Exchange Standards: https://iedea.github.io/ and https://redcap.vanderbilt.edu/plugins/iedea/des/

Commonly used standards

Standards exist for many aspects of research and scientific data. In this DMS Plan element, we are focusing on standards that relate to the collection, management, sharing, and dissemination of scientific data.

Some standards exist for broad areas of research, such as clinical research, while others arise from the needs of particular research communities.

Standards may be useful at various phases of a project. We have identified some key examples by research phase across the data life cycle below:

Stage Organization Standards
Data Collection National Cancer Institute Biospecimen Preanalytical Variables
Protocols HIPPA The De-identification Standard
Reporting NIH Guidance...on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research
Metadata Defining Our Research 3D Microscopy Metadata Standards

Library Support for Sharing Data

IU Libraries provide support for researchers seeking NIH-funding. We are actively monitoring updates and guidance available from the NIH, as well as the IU Research Data Management Plan Working Group. We will continue to update the information here to reflect those changes. Our support includes:

  • data management planning
  • selecting the appropriate repository(ies) for sharing data
  • planning for documentation that will enable data sharing, and
  • some aspects of preparing data for deposit
  • support decision-making related to data management and sharing that occurs during project start-up and active conduct of research

We will also connect you with other experts across IU who can help you submit the best DMS Plan possible. We are not able to write DMS Plans on behalf of research teams of which we are not members.

To request a consultation, contact the data librarian for your campus or school:

  • Heather Coates, IUPUI - hcoates@iu.edu 
  • Levi Dolan, Indiana University School of Medicine - dolanl@iu.edu
  • Ethan Fridmanski, Indiana University Bloomington - ejfridma@iu.edu