Implementation of the joint statement

The partners in this initiative have established a Public Health Research Data Forum as a basis for further discussion and coordination of activities to further the goals set out in the joint statement.

The partners are taking forward several joint activities to address key challenges facing the research community in increasing access to public health and epidemiology research data.These activities focus on three main areas:

• Capacity and skills
• Culture and incentives
• Infrastructure and tools

Work developed to date has included commissioned research on emerging tools for data citation and a project to explore options for building capacity and skills in data management and sharing low and middle income countries.

Initiatives in development include work to enhance the use of metadata standards, to develop common policy principles and guidance, and to build the evidence base on the perspectives of participants and other research stakeholders on data sharing.Further information on these activities will be provided as these projects move forward.

We would welcome feedback at any time from the community with respect to priorities for this work. Please contact David Carr at the Wellcome Trust if you have any views: d.carr@wellcome.ac.uk.