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Acquiring data

This is a simplified guide to the procedures and rules governing access and use of ALSPAC data and briefly covers the main requirements and steps, for detailed information please read the ALSPAC Collaboration Policy.

To use data and/or material from the ALSPAC data resource:

  1. Request Data Documentation: Submit a request for access to the detailed data documentation to alspac-project@bristol.ac.uk
    • You will need to state your name and institution - ALSPAC will need to verify that you are a genuine researcher and it is useful if the request comes from a known institutional address.  Put 'Data Documentation Request' as the subject.  It is also useful if you can state your area of interest and the type of research you might anticipate doing with ALSPAC data.
  2. Access to Data Documentation: Once a signed copy of confidentiality form has been received by ALSPAC, you will be given access to detailed ALSPAC data documentation (usually via a link to download the file or on CD)
  3. Submit ALSPAC Proposal and Sign Data Access Agreements: Submit a proposal to the ALSPAC Executive using the ALSPAC proposal form (available on the ALSPAC website) – in this you will need to give a detailed description of the research project and the ALSPAC data you request and list all the researchers involved (see form for details).
    • Sign appropriate agreement/s as part of your proposal: All genotype and biological sample data and material is governed by the Human Tissues Act and there are specific agreements which must be signed by those seeking access.  These agreements differ in who is required to sign depending on whether the collaborator is a member of a different institution (i.e. a separate legal entity) or University of Bristol (i.e. the same legal entity).  These agreements are available on the ALSPAC website. Other data is covered by the simpler ALSPAC collaborator agreements and governed by the rules set out in the ALSPAC Collaboration Policy.
    • The Executive meets weekly and collaborators would usually have a response within 2 weeks
    • The Executive considers proposals on 3 grounds:
      • Scientific merit
      • Ethics, particularly with regard to protecting confidentiality of the cohort
      • Overlap with existing research (including issue of embargoed data)
    • If approved, the Executive will cost the data request based on the cost of preparing and supporting the use of the data set
  5. ALSPAC Response: You will receive notice of either
    • Approval and fees required
    • Non-approval with comments to enable revision and re-submission
  6. Payment of fees
  7. Receive Data: Once the agreements are signed and fees have been paid, you will receive data sets / sample material requested
  8. Complete Publication Checklist: When you are preparing publications, you must complete ALSPAC Publications Checklist (available on the ALSPAC website) and return to ALSPAC at least 2 weeks before any publication is submitted
  9. Return Data: Within 1 year of completing your project, you must return your final data set including any derived variables and explanatory documentation to be incorporated into the ALSPAC data resource