The Umeå SIMSAM Lab and its researchers are dedicated to studies on childhood conditions and lifelong health and welfare through the use of record linked register data. The data resource itself is a unique collection of datasets build through the linkage of individual records from registers hold by Statistics Sweden and the National Board of Health and Welfare, as well as other national, regional and local health registers. The data can be accessed only at the secured laboratory situated in the Social Science building at Umeå University: the Umeå SIMSAM Lab.
This document describes briefly a set of policies summarizing the steering group ambitions and intentions with the Umeå SIMSAM Lab and its data infrastructure, and more specifically important issues that researchers planning to use (or already using) the data need to be aware of.
RELATION TO RESEARCH PROGRAMME: When planning for studies to be carried out with the data at the Umeå SIMSAM Lab, we encourage taking part of the documentation on our research programme at the Cambro site of the Lab. The proposed study needs to fit in with the overall research programme of the Umeå SIMSAM Lab. Additionally, in order for the study not to collide with any other on-going or planned studies the steering group should be contacted early in the planning process. The steering group has the obligation to coordinate researchers when it comes to research areas and research questions.
COLLABORATION AND RELATION TO THE UMEÅ SIMSAM LAB: The Umeå SIMSAM Lab hosts an interdisciplinary group of researchers, with the ambition to perform truly interdisciplinary research. We in the steering group encourage and prioritize research attempts that involve collaborations between disciplines. More precisely, we strongly encourage that every research project should involve scientists from the Social sciences, the Medical sciences and researchers with Statistical competence (we use the term SMS research groups).
CONTRIBUTING TO INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF DATA AND RESULTS: When working with the data infrastructure, we expect collaborators to participate in activities organized by the Umeå SIMSAM Lab, such as presenting research in our workshops and contributing to seminars. We also expect researchers to actively participate in filling a bank of knowledge on the data resources, for instances through the FAQ available at the Cambro site of the Lab.
SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY: Strict confidentiality and security routines must be respected. The data can be analysed only on the computers available at the Lab, and only aggregated summaries of the analyses can be taken out of the Lab.
ACCESS TO THE UMEÅ SIMSAM LAB AND ITS DATA: Researchers can join the Umeå SIMSAM Lab cooperation and get access to the data for specific studies after a formalized application procedure to the steering group of the Umeå SIMSAM Lab. Approval will only be given if the research question is within the ethical vetting board's approval and if other parts of our policy are or will be fulfilled. Documentation is available at the Cambro site of the Lab.
UMEÅ, OCTOBER 1, 2014 STEERING GROUP OF THE UMEÅ SIMSAM LAB
