Who may access research data?
(cont.)
Financial Data:
- Sponsor – Generally, projects sponsors have broad access to all financial data related to the project. This access may be exercised through the sponsor’s grants or contracts office or through the use of an audit. Federal funding is also subject to audits performed by private audits firms under the auspices of OMB Circular A-133.
- Institution – Within an institution, access to financial data is generally limited to those having a need for access. Institutions, for instance, place controls in their accounting systems over who may access budgets and salary information. Cost-sharing and effort reporting data are similarly controlled due to salary information.
Administrative Data:
- Sponsor – Sponsors have broad access to administrative data, but given the fact that administrative data can take many forms, generally sponsors will have specific offices having those rights of access. For instance, the Office of Human Research Protections will have sole access to administrative data pertaining to NIH-funded projects involving human participants. Similarly, misconduct cases that arise in NIH funded projects are handled by the DHHS Office of Research Integrity. Other types of administrative data, such as information related to invention disclosure and patent applications, will fall under the cognizance of the sponsor’s intellectual property office or legal counsel.
- Institution – As is the case with financial data, institutions place controls on administrative data that limit access to those having a need for access.
