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NIH Launches Website for New Genomic Data Sharing Policy

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – The National Institutes of Health last week announced that it has established a web resource to provide additional information on implementation of the Genomic Data Sharing Policy it put into effect earlier this year.

In mid-2014, the NIH announced a policy laying out its expectations for the proper sharing of large-scale human and non-human genomic data generated from agency-funded research.

"Sharing research data supports the NIH mission and is essential to facilitate the translation of research results into knowledge, products, and procedures that improve human health," the NIH said at the time.

The policy addresses, among other things, timelines for the submission and release of data for access by secondary investigators, privacy concerns, and intellectual property issues. It went into effect in late January.

Last week, the NIH said it has set up a website about the data sharing policy, such as a guidance document for investigators on consent requirements around the future use and sharing of human genomic and phenotypic data.

New information and resources will be added to the site as they become available, the NIH said.

The Genomic Data Sharing Policy website can be accessed here.

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