Research Data Compliance

About Us

Research data acquisition, use, and sharing have become increasingly complex. Researchers must often navigate data provider obligations, sponsor and publisher expectations, institutional policies, and evolving privacy, security, and data governance frameworks before obtaining, using, storing, analyzing, or sharing data.

The Research Data Compliance team supports investigators and research staff across the Harvard Longwood Campus (HLC) by helping identify compliance considerations, coordinate with relevant offices, and support implementation of requirements related to research data, data-driven research activities, DUAs, and other agreements.

Refer to the ORA Research Data Support SharePoint for resources and guidance related to data acquisition & sharing, data use agreements (DUAs), compliance system support, and research data policies & procedures.

Areas of Support

Areas of Support:

Data acquisition, access, and sharing consultations, including support for data provider applications
Identification of compliance considerations related to regulated, restricted, sensitive, or identifiable data
Interpretation and implementation of requirements from data providers, applicable regulations, data governance frameworks, University policies, DUAs, and other research agreements
Guidance on Harvard research data policies and procedures
Compliance systems support for Agreements-DUA and Data Safety processes
Support identifying whether additional reviews, approvals, or controls may be needed as part of the research data compliance process
Coordination with DUA reviewers in school research administration offices (HMS/HSDM ORA and HSPH SPA), IT security reviewers, IRB, privacy, grants/contracts, and other relevant offices as needed
Development of processes and procedures to support complex research data access and sharing arrangements, including master agreements and data repositories

Which types of Harvard reviews, if any, are needed for your research data? Confirm using the Decision Tool.

Refer to the HLC Research Data Compliance Support site for resources and guidance related to data acquisition and sharing, DUA requirements, compliance system support, and research data policies and procedures.

Team Office Hours

Book a 30-minute consultation with one of the Research Data Compliance team members. For questions related to research data policies and processes, email your inquiry to the Research Data Compliance Team.