Category Archives: Research Data Management

The Federal Demonstration Partnership Template Pilot: a Community Response to NIH’s “New” Data Management and Sharing Policy 

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Towards the end of January 2023, NIH’s new Data Management and Sharing Policy (DMSP) went into effect. Among the key provisions for this policy was the requirement for including a Data Management Plan (DMP) for most types of grant applications, regardless of the award request. A DMP asks researchers to identify the types of data they expect to produce from their project, where that data will be stored, and what provisions will be made for sharing the data. You can read more about the NIH DMSP here. 

Preparation and work from the NIH, the MSK Library, other institutional libraries, and research administrators have gone into creating resources in support of this policy roll-out, including an NIH Data Sharing website, templates in the DMPTool, and a resource guide at MSK. Those vested in supporting NIH-funded researchers and the policy will continue to enhance workflows and provide guidance to lower the administrative burden of creating a successful DMP.

The Federal Demonstration Partnership Template Pilot program brought together government and institutional partners to “test the effectiveness and usability of two DMSP templates developed in collaboration with representatives from participating ICs [NIH Institutes and Centers]”. The goal of this program is to:

  • understand engagement with researchers/PIs,
  • reduce the challenges of compliance by creating fillable PDF formatted DMPs,
  • provide more specific direction and endorsement of formats (by partnering with the widely-used DMPTool),
  • and increase the likelihood that DMPs will meet the expectations of NIH grants. 

The two templates have been dubbed Alpha and Bravo. Alpha is a PDF aimed at limiting free form entry while Bravo is a word document containing detailed prompts. 

These templates are now available in the DMPTool or you can download them from the FDP website.  

If you have questions about how to create a DMP, or would like to request a consultation about the new policy, please contact Anthony Dellureficio, Associate Librarian, Data Management.

International Love Data Week: Let me count the ways!

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Do you love data? Are you interested in learning more about how proper data handling can enhance your research?

Organizations around the world are offering a number of events to help celebrate International Love Data Week, February 13-17, 2023.

ICPSR has a robust listing of events and workshops to help you sharpen your skills: ICPSR List of Events.

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) is also hosting daily scheduled events: NNLM Love Data Week Schedule.

Kick-off of Love Data Week, February 13, also coincides with the MSK Library’s monthly Research Data Management: Best Practices class. Join us for a discussion of the FAIR principles and practical steps you can take every day to develop healthy data habits: Class Sign-up.

For many researchers, data management has taken on a special meaning as NIH has rolled out its new Data Management and Sharing Policy (January 25, 2023), which requires that all NIH grant applicants include a Data Management Plan with their submission. The MSK Library has been collaborating with administrative offices, grant editors, and researchers across the organization to provide guidance, develop tools, and centralize information through a new online resource, our NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy LibGuide.

If you have any questions about research data or want to chat with someone who not only counts the ways he loves data but is also likely to perform a Chi-Squared analysis on the ways he loves data, please reach out to Anthony Dellureficio, Associate Librarian for Data Management Services.

New Resource: NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy Guide

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a new Data Management and Sharing Policy, effective January 25, 2023. This policy includes an expectation that researchers will maximize their data sharing activities, ensure they submit a Data Management Plan (DMP) at the time of grant submission, and deposit their data into a public repository. To support the implementation of this new policy, a resource guide has been developed to provide information and guidance for our researchers. Click the link below to go directly to the guide.   

NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy LibGuide

Whether you are applying for a new grant or have a renewal deadline in your near future, this guide will help you navigate policy changes and requirements, as well as connect you with the right individuals or departments should you have specific questions. This guide has been customized for MSK staff and will be updated accordingly to ensure that researchers are provided with the latest information related to the policy.  

If you have questions about the guide, or would like to request a presentation about the new policy, please contact Anthony Dellureficio, Associate Librarian, Data Management Services.