COGR Sends Follow Up Letter to Open Science Committee Members on Public Access

In a letter dated January 19, 2018, COGR expressed appreciation for continued collaboration on open science policy and data sharing initiatives. COGR emphasized the importance of further stakeholder input in developing guidance on critical topics such as data standards, data storage options for federally funded research, and reporting requirements. The letter advocated for increased funding to support research into practical solutions for data curation, storage, and human subject confidentiality, noting that evolving technology is likely to significantly impact these issues over time. In the short term, COGR recommended a flexible, investigator-driven approach to data management, akin to the National Science Foundation’s model, but highlighted the eventual need for standardized practices to enable efficient, cost-effective data sharing. Additionally, COGR raised concerns about the practicality of funding data management costs through current grant structures, as such expenses often arise after the conclusion of a project and are not typically allowable under standard audit practices. The organization argued that if public data sharing is a government priority, then repositories should receive direct federal support rather than placing unfunded mandates on research institutions. COGR also pointed out the complexities institutions face in modifying record retention policies, which often require lengthy internal and external reviews. Recognizing the particular challenges in expansive fields like biomedical research and the increasing regulatory burden on researchers, COGR called for ongoing, pragmatic dialogue and alignment with recommendations from groups such as the AAU-APLU, cautioning against major policy changes without thorough consideration and preparation.