4. Data access process

Potential collaborators and data requestors should first contact MCPS investigators or review this website (including previous MCPS publications) and MCPS Data Showcase to gain an understanding of the available study data and of projects that have previously been completed. The MCPS Data Showcase aims to present the data available from the study for health-related research in a comprehensive and concise way, and to provide additional information for researchers considering applying to use the resource.

4.1 Collaboration requests

Researchers who are interested in collaborating on projects with MCPS researchers in Mexico or the UK are encouraged to approach the MCPS group informally in the first instance by email or to contact relevant MCPS investigators to discuss research ideas and feasibility. Enquiries should include a project title and brief outline of the research project and the relevant data of interest. Each project will require a co-investigator from within the MCPS group who has a common interest in the project and relevant or complementary research expertise. Once identified, the collaborator and the co-investigator will co-develop a research proposal which will then be reviewed by the MCPS Access Committee.

4.2 Open Access Data requests

Registration/eligibility

All open access data requestors are first required to complete the MCPS Data Access Registration form (also available in Spanish). Requestors should be employees of a recognised academic institution, health service organisation or charitable research organisation with experience in medical research. They should be able to clearly demonstrate, through their peer reviewed publications in the area of interest, their ability to conduct independent research.

Submission of a data request

Once approved, data requestors will be sent an MCPS project description and data request form and will need to return the completed form to mcps-access@ndph.ox.ac.uk. This form requires the requestor to provide: a project title and abstract; scientific rationale/methodology; anticipated outputs and project timeline. Additional questions cover ethical issues, collaborators/research team, funding support and data security, and the data variables they would like to receive.

Review of a data request

Open access data requests will initially be assessed by the MCPS study investigators. Each application will be considered on its individual merit. If necessary, independent peer review will be sought. Approved projects will: (i) have clearly defined objectives; (ii) include a sound methodology that is likely to generate meaningful results; (iii) be based on an appropriate and available selection of data; (iv) have clearly defined timelines and outputs (e.g. 1-2 papers in peer-reviewed journals). Projects that overlap significantly with approved and/or completed projects may be rejected. These may be projects underway by MCPS researchers, collaborations or open access data requests.

The MCPS team aims to review and respond to data requests within two to four weeks. A requestor can appeal to the Nuffield Department of Population Health’s Independent Data Access Oversight Committee if their request is denied by the project team using this contact us form.