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Data access processes can pose several challenges to research ethics. Overly restrictive policies can prevent data sharing, hindering advances in scientific research. Overly permissive policies can jeopardise a participant or patient’s privacy and erode trust. An institution’s data access committee (DAC) can safeguard the data access process by reviewing researchers’ data access requests and ensuring that their intended research purpose matches the participant or patient’s original consents.

However, there are no standard operating procedures that apply across DACs. To promote greater coordination, collaboration, and efficiency among DACs, the DACReS team created the Data Access Committee Guiding Principles and Procedural Standards Policy as the first tool in its toolkit. The policy outlines guiding principles for responsible oversight of genomic data, the importance of transparency in the data access process, essential standard operating procedures for DACs, criteria for assessing access applications, progress reporting, data management incidences, and mechanisms for implementing the policy through essential and desired criteria. The DACReS Toolkit aims to provide further clarity on a number of additional relevant issues.