DATA MANAGEMENT
Responsible stewardship of research data increases the transparency and rigor of research and ensures that our research is conducted with the utmost integrity. Mass General Brigham institutions and their investigators, research staff and administrators share responsibility for proper management and retention of research data, materials, and records in accordance with regulatory requirements and MGB policies.
RESEARCH INFORMATION OWNERSHIP
All Research Information arising from research conducted at an MGB hospital or institution is the property of the hospital or institution as outlined in the Research Information Ownership Policy. It is the Investigator’s responsibility to ensure that research data, materials, and records are collected, organized, and stored securely in accordance with federal, MGB. and hospital policies for recordkeeping and data security.
- Tangible research data, materials, and records should be stored in appropriate hospital facilities.
- Electronic research data, materials, and records should be stored on appropriate hospital devices (e.g., desktop computers, laptop computers, mobile devices (including mobile phones and tablets, portable hard drives and flash drives, and any other portable device that can be used to store data), etc.).
Research Information must be made available to Mass General Brigham and/or the relevant Mass General Brigham-affiliated hospital or institution to respond to inquiries, investigations, audits, litigation, and other appropriate requests from sponsors or federal, state or local government agencies and for internal reviews or investigations.
RETENTION OF RESEARCH DATA, MATERIALS, AND RECORDS
Mass General Brigham has established a retention period for all Research Information of no fewer than seven (7) years after the end of a research project or activity as outlined in the Guidelines on Retention of Research Data, Materials, and Records. While these Guidelines specify the minimum length of time for retention of Research Information, research staff must also consider how to retain them in a secure manner that is consistent with regulatory requirements (e.g., HIPAA) and sponsor expectations (e.g., NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy), regarding confidentiality, data management, and sharing. Investigators are encouraged to establish a written Research Information data management plan that describes how research data, records, and materials will be collected, maintained, shared and retained throughout the research project.