The Research Data Alliance has published the 2nd release of the RDA COVID-19 Working Group Recommendations and Guidelines.
2nd Release Highlights:
During the week since the first release, two cross-cutting COVID-19 sub-groups were set up focusing on Legal and Ethical aspects and Software. The seven sub-groups have kept up their relentless pace and the main updates in this version, with respect to the 1st release on the 24 April 2020, include:
Section 3 -Foundational Principles/Recommendations – modifications
Section 4 – Clinical – updated
Section 6 – Epidemiology – revised
Section 8 – Omics – revised
Section 9 – Overarching Research Software Guidelines – new sub-section 9.3 initial guidelines for policy makers included
Section 10 – Overarching Legal and Ethical Guidelines added
Furthermore, the editorial team have incorporated some of the feedback received via the Requests for Comments (RfC) process and sent directly to Co-chairs, Sub-group moderators and the Editorial team.
The social sciences and community participation sub-groups are working on updates and additions for future releases.
You are invited to visit each of the sub-group pages (accessible from the COVID-19 Working Group landing page) to see specific ongoing activities and links to documents and resources.
Timing, Future Releases and weekly webinars:
In terms of timing, weekly releases (every Friday) are foreseen between now and 22 May 2020. More information and insights on the plans for those releases, as well as highlights from the sub-groups are given during the weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11UTC – see Events page for details and to access previous recordings and presentations.
Request for Comments:
As always, RDA welcomes feedback on the content of the releases, the scope, the direction, is vital for all involved to shape and focus the document and the sections to be a useful and meaningful tool.
Call for Expertise:
The Clinical Subgroup would greatly appreciate the help from clinical imaging data and immunological data experts. Please join the COVID-19 Clinical group at https://www.rd-alliance.org/groups/rda-covid19-clinical or contact the RDA Secretariat at enquiries[at]rd-alliance.org
DRI is honoured to be be making direct contributions to this effort. Natalie Harrower is a Co-Chair of the RDA COVID-19 Working group, a member of the Editorial team, and a member of the Epidemiology sub-WG. Timea Biro is a moderator for the Community Participation group, which involves supporting each release from the group.
More on the RDA COVID-19 Working Group
In response to a direct request from one of the RDA funding agencies, the community answered a call to action at the end of March 2020 and set up an RDA Working group, with 5 sub-groups focusing on essential thematic areas: Clinical, Community Participation, Epidemiology, Omics, and Social Sciences. The initial work was divided into these 5 areas as a way to both focus the conversations and provide an initial set of guidelines within a tight timeframe. Additional themes and details will be added over time in iterative releases of this document.
The objectives of the RDA COVID-19 Working Group (CWG) are:
- to clearly define detailed guidelines on data sharing under the present COVID-19 circumstances to help stakeholders follow best practices to maximize the efficiency of their work, and to act as a blueprint for future emergencies;
- to develop guidelines for policymakers to maximise timely, quality data sharing and appropriate responses in such health emergencies;
- to address the interests of researchers, policy makers, funders, publishers, and providers of data sharing infrastructures.
The CWG is addressing the development of such detailed guidelines on the deposit of different data sources in any common data hub or platform. The guidelines aim at developing a system for data sharing in public health emergencies that supports scientific research and policymaking, including an overarching framework, common tools and processes, and principles that can be embedded in research practice. The guidelines to be developed will address general aspects related to the principles that data should adhere to, for example, FAIR and other principles. The initial work was divided into 5 thematic areas (Clinical, Community Participation, Epidemiology, Omics, Social Sciences) as a way to focus the conversations, and provide an initial set of guidelines in a tight timeframe. Additional themes and details will be added over time in iterative releases of this document.
