Are HRECs our sensitive data advocates? How working with HRECs can improve research data management outcomes

Dr Cameron Fong¹, Dr Adele Haythornthwaite¹, Dr Karyn Ridgway¹

¹The University Of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia

Introduction

Researchers at Sydney must use university-managed platforms to store and manage their data specifying their plans in their human ethics applications. Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) decision making is underpinned by research data management policy. HRECs are key advocates for responsible research data management and facilitate collaboration with data management practitioners.

Method

HREC applications contain specific data management questions, for conduct and completion of the research project. By attending HREC meetings throughout 2020 our team:

1-           identified how researchers were planning to manage their research data

2-           observed how the HRECs approached these questions

3-           provided materials and training to the HREC and ethics administration team to identify research data management problems, knowledge gaps, provide advice, and/or direct researchers to our team

Results

We observed increased identification by HRECs and ethics administrators of non-compliant data practices with increased referrals of researchers to our data consulting team. Resources for HRECs and researchers were created, revised and updated. We identified gaps in our suite of platforms and tools where changed working practices created need i.e. compliant transcription tools.

Conclusions

Working with HRECs enabled us to detect data management issues, provide resources, support and training. HREC members and administrators are more aware and better able to make informed decisions, are able to make researchers aware of issues, provide resources, and advise researchers to seek consultations with our team. We expect better outcomes and reduced risk for everyone when handling sensitive data and navigating the complexities of HRECs and data management.

Biography:

Cameron is a Research Data Consultant at the University of Sydney. He has has a background in research, completed a PhD at NeuRA and spent time at NSW Health before returning to Sydney in a research support role. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4558-3700