All applications for new contracts or renewals will now be accomplished online in the Add Health Contracts Management System (CMS). Access to the CMS is via the Data Portal. There are links for initiating new contracts and renewing existing contracts.
There are two types of restricted-use contract options. The guidance below is intended to help researchers determine which contract type – Secure Research Workspace (SRW) or Home Institution – is most appropriate based on their current or intended method of accessing Add Health restricted-use data. In addition to access preferences, researchers should consider the following factors:
- Special Request Data Sets
These highly sensitive datasets are only available under SRW contracts. For more information, please refer to the Special Request Data Access section. - Add Health Omics Data from dbGaP
Researchers who wish to integrate Add Health restricted-use data with Omics data obtained from dbGaP must use a Home Institution contract. This integration is facilitated via a linkage file, available upon request. Due to the nature of Omics data, they must be hosted on a Linux server at the Principal Investigator’s institution, in compliance with Home Institution contract requirements.
SRW Contracts
An SRW Contract is one type of Restricted-Use Contract that gives users access to the Add Health restricted-use data on the Secure Research Workspace (SRW) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Standard Data Access
All users on an SRW Contract will have access to all Standard restricted-use data sets. These include any data set that is not explicitly listed as Special Request (see below). Each contract will be provided with a directory on the SRW for organizing their work.
A list of the Standard data sets can be found in the sortable and searchable Add Health File Inventory, including the directory path for ease in locating the files. Standard data sets are denoted as such in the “Access” column.
Special Request Data Access
Special Request data are files that have additional limitations on access. These data are only available on the SRW.
A list of the Special Request data sets can be found in the sortable and searchable Add Health File Inventory, including the directory path for ease in locating the files. Special Request data sets are denoted as such in the “Access” column.
Access to Special Request data must be made by the Principal Investigator of the SRW Contract from within their account on the CMS. Only one individual on a contract may have access to each Special Request data set. The access is granted for the length of the contract. Additional access requirements are listed below alongside each data set. All requirements are the responsibility of the Contract Principal Investigator (PI).
- Romantic Pairs
- Upload a Justification Statement using the provided form.
- SOGI-SES Sensitive
- Upload a Data Analysis Plan using the provided form.
- FAA Aircraft Noise Measures Data
- Electronically sign a Data Access Agreement.
- Apply to the FAA for access. Details on how to apply are in the Data Access Agreement and can also be found here.
- Access is granted upon receipt of the approval email from the FAA.
- HUD-Assisted Housing Supplementary Data
- Upload a Data Analysis Plan using the provided form.
- School District Grouping
- Upload a Data Analysis Plan using the provided form.
- Death Certificate Data
- Electronically sign a Data Access Agreement
- Restrictions associated with publications and presentations of these data can be viewed here.
- dbGaP Linkage File
- Electronically sign a Data Access Agreement.
- This file allows researchers to integrate Add Health restricted-use data with Omics data obtained from dbGaP.
- Must be used with the Omics data on a Linux server.
- Only available with a Home Institution contract.
UNC Secure Research Workspace (SRW)
The UNC Secure Research Workspace (SRW) is hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) ITS Research Computing division. It provides a digital collaborative environment for teams of researchers to work with regulated data. The platform supports many projects working with a variety of data sensitivity levels and computational needs and adheres to a NIST 800-53 System Security Plan. The SRW is a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) where users remotely connect and work in the remote environment using the Omnissa Horizon client. Both the remote UNC SRW infrastructure and the Horizon client will be provided to Add Health researchers free of charge.
Statistical software packages SAS, Stata, R, Python, MPlus, and MatLab are also provided at no cost. Please note that we cannot install any software that is not on this list. However, users can request installation of publicly available Python libraries, R packages, and Stata library packages. Before requesting a new library or package, please log in to the SRW and confirm that it is not installed. To request an installation, send an email to addhealth_srw_it@cpc.unc.edu.
SRW virtual desktops currently run Windows 10 Enterprise with an upgrade to Windows 11 planned for the near future. Users use their Windows or Mac computer to connect into the virtual desktop at the UNC SRW using the freely available Horizon client.
There is no fee associated with accessing the SRW. Storage space quota is not currently enforced, although this is subject to change in the future to a reasonable level if overall space becomes constrained. We currently support 175 concurrent SRW user login sessions, each with 4 CPU cores and 16 GB of RAM memory. We will periodically assess needs and add additional computing resources as appropriate.
For more information on the SRW, please visit https://its.unc.edu/project/secure-research-space-srw/.
UNC Affiliate Status
Users on an SRW Contract will become Affiliates of UNC. The Affiliate application will be automated within the contract application process. Users will receive a UNC Person ID (PID) and be asked to create a login ID, known as an Onyen, which will be used to log in to the SRW.
All users will be required to comply with UNC policy, including completing mandatory Security Awareness Training every year. Failure to comply will result in the removal of access to the SRW.
Home Institution Contracts
A Home Institution Contract is a second type of Restricted-Use Contract that gives users access to the Add Health restricted-use data on a secure server at their university or institution.
If your institution’s IT unit is listed below, you may apply for a Home Institution Contract. Upon confirmation of contract completion by Add Health, the IT unit will grant access to the secure server.
If your institution’s IT unit is not listed below, they will need to sign a Restricted-Use Data Hosting Agreement in order to receive a copy of the data. Once that Agreement has been signed, you may then apply for a Home Institution Contract.
Standard Data Access
All Home Institution Contracts are granted access to the standard restricted-use data sets, which include all data sets not explicitly designated as Special Request. Special Request data are available exclusively through the UNC Secure Research Workspace (SRW).
Security Requirements
A Windows or Linux server may be set up to host the data, but it and all systems storing, processing or transmitting the data must adhere to the UNC Information Security Controls Standard (MSS) at the High protection obligation level. This information is detailed in a PDF that can be sent to your IT unit upon request.
Data Hosting Agreement
The IT unit responsible for securing and managing the server must sign a Restricted-Use Data Hosting Agreement. The agreement can be downloaded here.
List of Institutions with a Signed Restricted-Use Data Hosting Agreements
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Holding Both Types of Contracts
In certain cases, researchers may need to hold both a Home Institution and an SRW Contract, though this is generally discouraged. Examples include:
- Special Request Data Access with a Home Institution Contract: A PI with a Home Institution Contract may desire access to a Special Request data set. Rather than migrating all project files and team workflows to the SRW, the PI may apply for an SRW Contract solely for work involving the Special Request data. All related analyses would be conducted on the SRW, while other research would continue on the institutional server.
- Working with Omics Data with an SRW Contract: A PI with an SRW Contract may need to access Omics data from dbGaP, which must be processed on a Linux server. Since UNC does not permit non-UNC researchers to use its Linux servers, the PI may apply for a Home Institution Contract to host the data on a compliant Linux server at their institution. After the IT unit signs a Restricted-Use Data Hosting Agreement and receives the Standard restricted-use data set, the PI can download the Omics data to the institutional server and proceed with the research. This approach allows the PI to maintain SRW-based work for team members less familiar with Linux.