Research Data Management and Sharing: Repository Selection
Repository Selection
- NIH: Data Sharing ResourcesA list, provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), of repositories that can be utilized to share data in accordance with data sharing policies.
- NIH: Generalist Repository Ecosystem Initiative (GREI) RepositoriesNIH recognized, established generalist repositories that work together to establish consistent metadata, and educate researchers on FAIR data and the importance of data sharing.
- PLOS ONE: Recommended RepositoriesA list of repositories for data sharing compiled by PLOS ONE.
- Re3data: Registry of Research Data RepositoriesRe3data is a global registry of research data repositories that covers research data repositories from different academic disciplines.
Considerations for Data that Need Access Restrictions
You may need to restrict access to your data temporarily or permanently. As you review possible repositories, look for policy language on whether they provide controlled or restricted access options. If your restriction is temporary such as awaiting publication, look for options for embargo or delayed dissemination.
Two examples of general repositories that allow for controlled/restricted access or allow you to define customizable terms of use are Zenodo from CERN (see policies) and Dataverse from Harvard. Note that the repository staff may have access and so these may perhaps be unsuitable for highly sensitive data.
There are repositories with highly restricted options for human data with a social science component: the ICPSR lists options for confidential data at https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/pages/deposit/confidentiality.html. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is an institutional member of ICPSR.
For situations of timing but not confidentiality, Zenodo and Figshare+ are among several repositories which offer embargo time periods to temporarily restrict access. Others like ICPSR offer this under the term "delayed dissemination."