1. Institutional case study London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Gareth Knight Research Data Manager London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

2. LSHTM RDM Service
Public health research in many disciplines across the world
RDM placed in remit of the Archives & Records Management Service, part of LSHTM’s Library & Archives
Established in response to researcher-demand for central support - RDM Working Group 2010
Funded by:
Wellcome Trust –
Institutional support – 2015 onwards
1 FTE post + additional support as needed
Resources: RDM webpages, data repository, staff/student training, 1-to-1 advice, data-related policies, etc.

3. RDM Motivators
Researchers must recognise tangible benefits of better data management practice
Compliance
Data Protection
Funding compliance
International laws & regulations
Better research
Tangible benefits for participants
Enhance validity & reuse
Higher citations & more publications
Health research
A key challenge that everyone faces is how you sell RDM. This requires a careful balance between selling the research value of data management and the compliance reasons. Too much emphasis upon research results in low uptake as it’s considered optional, but too much emphasis upon compliance can create resentment and the consideration of RDM as a box ticking exercise.
as well as the need to comply with legal, ethical & contractual requirements

4. Data Management Needs Needs: Options: Deliver:
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
Finding data
Data Management Plan
DATA COLLECTION
Electronic capture devices
Data security
Participant consent & consortium agreements
DATA PROCESSING
Processing & analysis tools
International collaboration tools
Data standards
PROJECT CONCLUSION
Anonymisation & preparing data for sharing
Archiving of physical material
Data journals & content delivery
Needs:
Funding/research expectations
Common ‘pain points’ in research
Scope gaps in current support
Options:
Community resources available
Provide institutional solution (e.g. tablets & ODK, encrypted dictaphones)
Deliver:
Standalone courses for staff/students at key stages
Joined-up training – planning/starting/finish a project
Open science & expert exchange events
Joined-up training
RDM to Open Science
Case studies on good practice

5. Challenges
Health data often held in complex formats that can’t be converted without functionality loss – sheer curation
International legal & ethical standards must be considered to enable sharing
1000 researchers vs. 1 RDM person - must prioritise where and how support is provided
Busy people will forget! Communication must be timely, aimed at appropriate level and repeated to ensure take-up

6. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Thank You!
Gareth Knight
Research Data Manager
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

7. Image Credits