NIDDK data repository: a central collection of clinical trial data.
BACKGROUND
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases have established central repositories for the collection of DNA, biological samples, and clinical data to be catalogued at a single site. Here we present an overview of the site which stores the clinical data and links to biospecimens.


METHODS
The NIDDK Data repository is a web-enabled resource cataloguing clinical trial data and supporting information from NIDDK supported studies. The Data Repository allows for the co-location of multiple electronic datasets that were created as part of clinical investigations. The Data Repository does not serve the role of a Data Coordinating Center, but rather as a warehouse for the clinical findings once the trials have been completed. Because both biological and genetic samples are collected from many of the studies, a data management system for the cataloguing and retrieval of samples was developed.


CONCLUSIONS
The Data Repository provides a unique resource for researchers in the clinical areas supported by NIDDK. In addition to providing a warehouse of data, Data Repository staff work with the users to educate them on the datasets as well as assist them in the acquisition of multiple data sets for cross-study analysis. Unlike the majority of biological databases, the Data Repository acts both as a catalogue for data, biosamples, and genetic materials and as a central processing point for the requests for all biospecimens. Due to regulations on the use of clinical data, the ultimate release of that data is governed under NIDDK data release policies. The Data Repository serves as the conduit for such requests.
Cuticchia
A Jamie
AJ
Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. jamie.cuticchia@duke.edu
Cooley
Philip C
PC
Hall
R David
RD
Qin
Ying
Y
D022126:Access to Information; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D002965:Classification; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003625:Data Collection; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007253:Information Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020407:Internet; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D014481:United States