Superfund Research Program

Data Management Core

Project Leader: Richard Buchsbaum
Grant Number: P42ES010349
Funding Period: 2006-2017

Project-Specific Links

Final Progress Reports

Year:   2016  2010 

As no new projects requiring data systems were inaugurated in the past year, the major task of the data management core has been assembling data collected for other Columbia University SRP projects and integrating it into the central database. This has in large part been automated through the establishment of a data sharing website. Users with access to primary data collection (questionnaire data entry systems, lab results, clinical test results) can upload these data to the website, where the data files are stored, processed as necessary, and imported into the central database. All data currently being collected, with the exception of the unstructured lab data processed and imported by Diane Levy, the former core PI who remains in a part-time capacity, is imported via the website. In general, data is updated weekly, though users may upload data as frequently as desired. In addition, the web site provides a file-sharing utility, where data sets and associated files can be uploaded and shared with authorized users.

All data capture and transfer are done according to security protocols established at Columbia University. Data are stored on secure servers; electronic transfers are done over encrypted connections; data are physically moved using encrypted peripheral devices. The entire data system was re-certified by Columbia University Medical Center Information Security in 2015 as suitable for the storage of both research and clinical data.