Accessing the Data

NCATS N3C 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.

About Data Use Requests

In order to access N3C data, researchers must submit an online Data Use Request (DUR) through the NCATS N3C Data Enclave 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 Data 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 Data Enclave is up to date.

See FAQs about DURs.

Learn more about the process for accessing the N3C Data Enclave.

N3C 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 Data Enclave. Researchers must agree to the N3C Data User Code of Conduct when they apply to access and use N3C data.

NIH Information Security and Information Management Training 

The N3C Data Enclave is hosted by NCATS, and all researchers must complete the “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 Data Enclave

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

Acknowledgement Statement

“The analyses described in this [publication/report/presentation] were conducted with data or tools accessed through the NCATS N3C Data Enclave (https://covid.cd2h.org) and N3C Attribution & Publication Policy v 1.2-2020-08-25b supported by NCATS U24 TR002306 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].”

N3C Attribution and Publication Principles

This document addresses additional attribution and publication principles for the dissemination of research by the N3C community.

Participating in the N3C Community

Community Guiding Principles for the N3C    
These principles were provided by the N3C community to encourage and enable a highly collaborative research environment.