N3C Enclave Forms and Resources

Contributing Data

NCATS has established a Data Transfer Agreement (DTA) that provides terms and conditions for data transfer and outlines the general terms of data use. Institutions sign the DTA, then work with NCATS to transfer a Limited Data Set meeting the Enclave inclusion definition derived from electronic health records to the N3C Enclave.

Data Transfer Agreement

Institutions that wish to contribute data to the N3C Enclave must execute a Data Transfer Agreement (DTA) (PDF - 139KB) with NCATS. The DTA provides terms and conditions for data transfer and outlines the general terms of data use. For questions about executing the DTA, email us.

The original DTAs will begin to expire in 2025. Institutions may use the DTA extension amendment form (PDF - 160KB) to extend the period of the agreement through Sept. 30, 2029. The amendment changes the expiration date and the description of data to make recurring updates optional.

NCATS Linkage Honest Broker Agreement

Institutions that wish to participate in the Privacy Preserving Record Linkage (PPRL) initiative must execute a Linkage Honest Broker Agreement (LHBA) (PDF - 1.1MB) with NCATS. The LHBA provides terms and conditions for data linkage and outlines the general terms of data use. Institutions do not need to sign the LHBA in order to contribute data. For questions about and instructions for executing the LHBA, email us.

Learn how N3C’s PPRL initiative enables data connectivity while maintaining security.

Read frequently asked questions about PPRL and the LHBA.

The original LHBAs began to expire in 2025. Institutions may use the LHBA extension amendment form (PDF - 162KB) to extend the period of the agreement through Sept. 30, 2029. The amendment changes only the expiration date; all other terms of the agreement remain the same. The LHBA must be extended in addition to the DTA to allow linkages to continue.

Data Contribution Resources

Data Transfer Agreement Signatories
View a list of institutions that have agreed to transfer data.

Data Contribution FAQs
See answers to frequently asked questions about contributing data.

Accessing Data

Data Use Agreement Form

An N3C Data Use Agreement (DUA) (PDF - 826KB) is executed by NCATS and a research institution (or directly with a researcher in the case of a citizen scientist who is not affiliated with an institution). To submit a DUA to NCATS, institutions can download this form and email it to NCATS.

Note: DUAs can only be signed by Authorized Institutional Officials who have the authority to bind all users at their institution to the terms of the DUA. With the exception of citizen scientists not associated with institutions, individual researchers cannot sign their own DUAs with NCATS.

It is strongly recommended that researchers ensure that their home institution has executed a DUA with NCATS before they begin the process of applying for data access. See the list of institutions with active DUAs.

DUAs will remain in effect for five years from the DUA Effective Date. DUAs may be extended through Sept. 30, 2029, via a DUA extension amendment form (PDF - 99KB). The amendment changes only the expiration date; all other terms of the agreement remain the same.

Data Use Requests

To access N3C Enclave data, researchers must submit an online Data Use Request (DUR) for each project they want to start or join.

Information researchers need to provide in the DUR includes:

• The project title
• Names of project personnel
• A non-confidential research statement
• The project proposal
• The requested data access level

The N3C Data Access Committee (DAC) reviews and approves DURs. Once the DAC approves a DUR, access to the N3C Enclave workspace will be effective for one year starting from the date access is granted. A DUA must be in place for the entire term of a DUR. DURs will be renewable. When users renew their DURs, they will need to attest at that time that their training for access to the N3C Enclave is up to date.

See FAQs about DURs.

Learn more about the process for accessing the N3C Enclave.

Data User Code of Conduct

The N3C Data User Code of Conduct states core activities of data users and prohibitions on certain activities involving data or other resources accessible through the N3C Enclave. Researchers must agree to the Data User Code of Conduct when they apply to access and use N3C Enclave data.

NIH Information Security and Information Management Training

The N3C Enclave is hosted by NCATS, and all researchers must complete the “Information Security, Counterintelligence, Privacy Awareness, Records Management Refresher, Emergency Preparedness Refresher” Information Security, Counterintelligence, Privacy Awareness, Records Management Refresher, Emergency Preparedness Refresher" course, which can be accessed at NIH’s information security training website, before submitting a DUR. It will take approximately 60-90 minutes to complete the entire course and users should save evidence of completion for their records (a screenshot or copy of the certificate of completion).

Acknowledging N3C in Publications and Presentations

Recommended Citation for the N3C Enclave

National Institutes of Health (NIH). National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). National Clinical Cohort Collaborative Data Enclave Repository. Bethesda, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Acknowledgement Statement

“The analyses described in this [publication/report/presentation] were conducted with data or tools accessed through the NCATS N3C Enclave (https://n3c.ncats.nih.gov) and N3C Attribution & Publication Policy v 1.2-2020-08-25b supported by NCATS Contract No. 75N95023D00001 and [insert additional funding agencies or sources and reference numbers]. This research was possible because of the patients whose information is included within the data and the organizations (https://ncats.nih.gov/n3c/resources/data-contribution/data-transfer-agreement-signatories) and scientists who have contributed to the on-going development of this community resource [https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocaa196].”