In collaboration with the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition, the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) and the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO) are to launch a platform to develop and promote global research collaboration to generate evidence on COVID-19. It will aim to aggregate and standardise clinical data on COVID-19 infection, make data available to researchers, and enable equitable access to data across the research community. The platform is hosted by IDDO, based at the University of Oxford.
As a key pillar of the platform’s governance framework, a Data Access Committee (DAC) will be constituted to guide policy and decision-making on access to data hosted by the COVID-19 Data Platform. The DAC is an independent committee that will support the development, implementation and evolution of the COVID-19 Data Platform Data Access Guidelines in line with the platform’s values and purpose.
Role of the DAC: The DAC will consider applications to access data hosted on the COVID-19 Data Platform, decide if they are in line with the Data Access Guidelines and the Conflict of Interest Policy, and respond accordingly to applicants. The DAC will additionally identify and respond to emerging issues in data access.
Membership on the DAC is an unpaid position and is expected to require an initial videoconference, with subsequent review decisions made via email. The DAC will be responsible for overseeing applications to access data from both the ISARIC COVID-19 Data Platform and the IDDO COVID-19 Clinical Trials Data Platform. Frequent applications are expected and will require regular review and feedback.
DAC Membership: The DAC is chaired by TDR, the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases Research who serve as an independent observer to the committee. Up to fifteen additional members will form the full DAC membership.
Nominations for additional members are invited: We seek nominations for representatives across the diversity of nations affected by COVID-19, with skills and expertise in clinical research, clinical medicine, data protection and management, ethics in research and emergency public health response, benefits sharing and community engagement. A balance of skills, and geographical and gender representation, is sought within the DAC membership.
Nominations should be sent to covid19@iddo.org on or before Friday, 31 July 2020. Nominations should include the nominee’s name, current position, contact information and a brief description of why the individual is suitable. We would appreciate details of the applicable skills and experience listed above to support our selection process. CVs are appreciated as supporting documents, but not required. Please ensure the agreement of the nominee in advance. Self-nominations are welcome.
Photo credits: World Bank / Henitsoa Rafalia