Using Add Health OMICS and Restricted-Use Data
The Add Health OMICS data may be linked to the restricted-use data via the dbGaP Linkage File, a Special Request data set only available to contract users on a Home Institution Contract.
Researchers interested in acquiring the dbGaP Linkage File must meet several requirements.
- Must have an active dbGaP Data Use Agreement
- Must have an an Add Health Home Institution Contract
- Must have an approved dbGaP Linkage File Data Analysis Plan
Please follow the instructions below that best fit your current situation.
If the genetic data sets that are available as part of a restricted-use contract meet your needs, then an SRW Contract might be a better option. You can review the list of available genetic datasets in the Add Health File Inventory by selecting “Genetic” from the dropdown list over the Category column.
Researchers Who Have an Active dbGaP Data Use Agreement and an Add Health Home Institution Contract
You will need to submit a detailed Data Analysis Plan for review by an advisory committee. Please follow these steps:
- Log in to the Contracts Management System and find your contract.
- Click the Special Request Datasets tab at the top of the page.
- Under dbGaP Linkage File, click the Request Access button.
- Return to the Overview tab, scroll down and click dbGaP Linkage File in the sidebar, and download the Data Analysis Plan form from the provided link.
- Complete the form and send it to addhealth_contracts@unc.edu.
If your Data Analysis Plan is approved, you will be notified and the file will be transferred to you via the IT administrator affiliated with your Institution’s Data Hosting Agreement.
Researchers Who Have an Active dbGaP Data Use Agreement only
If you do not currently have an Add Health restricted-use contract, and your primary interest in obtaining one is to link the OMICS data with the restricted-use files, we highly recommend that you submit a detailed Data Analysis Plan for approval before beginning the lengthy contracts process.
Send an email to addhealth_contracts@unc.edu to request a copy of the Data Analysis Plan form.
Complete the form and return it to addhealth_contracts@unc.edu, with the subject line **<NAME> [NO CONTRACT] – dbGaP Linkage File Data Analysis Plan** where <NAME> is your full name.
If your Data Analysis Plan is approved, your next step will be to contact your central IT department at your Institution and inquire if they have a server that meets the requirements specified in the Restricted-Use Data Hosting Agreements page. The IT administrators should contact Add Health Contracts (addhealth_contracts@unc.edu) for a copy of the Restricted-Use Data Hosting Agreement. Add Health Contracts will also provide them with a Gap Analysis Form they can use to determine if their system meets all of the Add Health requirements for hosting the data.
Once a Data Hosting Agreement is signed with your Institution’s IT department, you will be able to apply for a Home Institution Contract. When your contract is fully executed, your approved Data Analysis Plan will automatically be applied to it and the dbGaP Linkage File will be transferred to you via the IT administrator affiliated with your institution’s Data Hosting Agreement.
Researchers Who Have an Add Health Home Institution Contract only
If you do not currently have an Active dbGaP Data Use Agreement, and your primary interest in obtaining one is to link the OMICS data with the restricted-use files, we highly recommend that you submit a detailed Data Analysis Plan for approval before beginning the lengthy application process with dbGaP.
Please follow these steps:
- Log in to the Contracts Management System and find your contract.
- Click the Special Request Datasets tab at the top of the page.
- Under dbGaP Linkage File, click the Request Access button.
- Return to the Overview tab, scroll down and click dbGaP Linkage File in the sidebar, and download the Data Analysis Plan form from the provided link.
- Complete the form and send it to addhealth_contracts@unc.edu.
If your Data Analysis Plan is approved, the How to Obtain Add Health OMICS data from dbGaP guide provides details on applying for a dbGaP Data Use Agreement.
Once you have an active dbGaP Data Use Agreement, please send proof to addhealth_contracts@unc.edu. Upon receipt, the dbGaP Linkage File will be transferred to you via the IT administrator affiliated with your Institution’s Data Hosting Agreement.
Researchers Who Have Neither an Active dbGaP Data Use Agreement nor an Add Health Home Institution Contract
The application procedures for both a dbGaP Data Use Agreement and an Add Health Home Institution Restricted-Use Contract are lengthy. We highly recommend any researcher who is interested in linking the OMICS data with the restricted-use files, but has neither agreement, to submit a detailed Data Analysis Plan for approval before beginning either application.
Send an email to addhealth_contracts@unc.edu to request a copy of the Data Analysis Plan form.
Complete the form and return it to addhealth_contracts@unc.edu, with the subject line **<NAME> [NO CONTRACT, NO dbGaP] – dbGaP Linkage File Data Analysis Plan** where <NAME> is your full name.
If your Data Analysis Plan is approved, your next step will be to contact your central IT department at your Institution and inquire if they have a server that meets the requirements specified in the Restricted-Use Data Hosting Agreements page. The IT administrators should contact Add Health Contracts (addhealth_contracts@unc.edu) for a copy of the Restricted-Use Data Hosting Agreement. Add Health Contracts will also provide them with a Gap Analysis Form they can use to determine if their system meets all of the Add Health requirements for hosting the data.
If your IT department tells you that they have a compliant server or can set one up, then you should next apply for a dbGaP Data Use Agreement. The How to Obtain Add Health OMICS data from dbGaP guide provides details on this process.
Once you have an active dbGaP Data Use Agreement, please send proof to addhealth_contracts@unc.edu. After your institution has a fully executed Data Hosting Agreement, you may then apply for a Home Institution Contract. When your contract is fully executed, your approved Data Analysis Plan will automatically be applied to it and the dbGaP Linkage File will be transferred to you via the IT administrator affiliated with your institution’s Data Hosting Agreement.