Public Datasets and Data Use Agreements

Public Use Datasets

Public Use Datasets are data files prepared by investigators or data suppliers with the intent of making them available for public use. The data available to the public are not individually identified or maintained in a readily identifiable form.

The following list of public use data sets has been reviewed by the IRB with the intent of making these data files available for use with no further review by the UTK IRB necessary, as long as the following criteria are met:

• Research will not involve any merging of any of the data sets in such a way that individuals might be identified, and
• The researcher will not enhance the public data sets with identifiable, or potentially identifiable data.

IRB Review is required in the following cases:

• If investigators will merge or enhance data sets in such a way that individuals might be identified
• If the dataset is restricted use or if submission of a proposal to the data owner is required.
• If the investigator will seek to obtain additional information from the database owner.
• If a data use agreement is involved.

Investigators who wish to have additional data sets added to the inventory may submit to the IRB for review a Public Data Set Nomination Form. If the IRB finds upon review that the additional data set meets the established criteria, it will be added to the inventory.

University of Tennessee, Knoxville Inventory of Public Use Data Sets

Users of public use data sets do not need to submit an IRB application to use such files or seek a determination that the use of the public data files meets the criteria for being exempt from IRB review.