Sharing Linked Data for Health Research: Toward Better Decision Making

Description

Health research around the world relies on access to data, and much of the most valuable, reliable, and comprehensive data collections are held by governments. These collections, which contain data on whole populations, are a powerful tool in the hands of researchers, especially when they are linked and analyzed, and can help to address "wicked problems" in health and emerging global threats such as COVID-19. At the same time, these data collections contain sensitive information that must only be used in ways that respect the values, interests, and rights of individuals and their communities. Sharing Linked Data for Health Research provides a template for allowing research access to government data collections in a regulatory environment designed to build social license while supporting the research enterprise.

Carolyn Adams is a Senior Lecturer in the Law School at Macquarie University. She has three decades of experience working in the fields of administrative law, human rights and privacy in senior policy positions at federal, state and territory levels in Australia, at the Australian Law Reform Commission, and in academia. She has been a member of the Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (Humanities and Social Sciences) since 2015. She was a member of the Population Health Research Network (PHRN) Ethics, Privacy and Consumer Engagement Advisory Group. Judy Allen is an Honorary Fellow of the Law School at the University of Western Australia with expertise in in torts, health law, and research ethics. She has provided policy advice to the Western Australian (WA) data linkage unit, government data custodians, and the Population Health Research Network on ethics, privacy, and data sharing processes. She has extensive experience in human research ethics and has chaired the WA Department of Health Human Research Ethics Committee, a specialist committee providing ethical review of data-based research projects, and the WA Country Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee. Felicity Flack is the Manager, Policy and Client Services for Australia's national data linkage infrastructure, the Population Health Research Network. She has extensive experience in the development, coordination and operation of national data linkage systems particularly the navigation of cross-jurisdictional legislative, policy and ethical issues. She also has many years of experience in research ethics including working as a research ethics manager as well as being a member and Chair of the Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Health Care Group Human Research Ethics Committee. Felicity is a Churchill Fellow.

'This is a much-needed contribution to the international discussion of how to responsibly use linked data in health research. By covering theory and practice, ethics and law, Adams, Allen, and Flack offer more than just a well-researched academic volume: it is a playbook for researchers and regulators to optimize health data linkage to advance the public good.' Eric M. Meslin, Ph.D., FRSC, FCAHS President and CEO, Council of Canadian Academies 'I strongly recommend this excellent, comprehensive book. It's based on sound theoretical foundations and practical solutions with international relevance. It's a highly important, unique contribution to the literature and is relevant to professionals and students alike across the globe.' Kerina Jones, Professor of Population Data Science, Swansea University, Wales, UK 'This excellent monograph explains how linked personal data can be safely used to answer important health questions. Future decisions about data sharing, requiring legal authorisation as well as independent ethical review, should be timely, transparent and based on clear and consistent criteria.' John D. Mathews, Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne