Can I have your data? Recommendations and practical tips for sharing neuroimaging data upon a direct personal request

• DOI: 10.1162/imag_a_00508
• Publication Date: 2025-03-03T20:01:51Z
• Authors: Anita S. Jwa; Martin Norgaard; Russell A. Poldrack
• Keywords: Data Sharing

Abstract Sharing neuroimaging data upon a direct personal request can be challenging both for researchers who the and those agree to share their data. Unlike sharing through repositories under standardized protocols use/sharing agreements, each party often needs negotiate terms of use case by case. This negotiation unfolds against complex backdrop ethical regulatory requirements along with technical hurdles related transfer management. These challenges significantly delay process, if not properly addressed, lead potential tensions disputes between parties. study aims help navigate these examining what consider during process offering recommendations practical tips. We first divided into six stages: requesting data, reviewing applicability relevant laws regulations, negotiating preparing transferring managing analyzing outcome secondary analysis For stage, we identified factors review principles human subject research; individual institutions' funding agencies' policies; applicable regulations in U.S. E.U. then provide insights from large-scale ongoing project led one authors as study. In this study, PET/MRI total 782 subjects were collected requests across seven sites USA, Canada, UK, Denmark, Germany, Austria. The also revealed that should typically expect spend an average 8 months on efforts, timeline extending up 24 some cases due additional or necessary corrections. current state via is far ideal presents significant challenges, particularly early career scientists, have limited time frame – two three years work project. best practices tips offered will streamline while minimizing friction frustrations.