Publicly available datasets are those that contain data that are available to anyone regardless of occupation, purpose, or affiliation, and have legitimately attained such status; i.e., those individuals who are responsible for posting the dataset had legitimate access to the data and have employed the necessary mechanisms to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the individuals about whom the data were collected. In general, while the use of such data may meet the regulatory definition of research, the definition of human subjects is not met because data about a living person is not obtained through interaction or intervention, and no private, identifiable information about a living individual is obtained.

The HSC has reviewed the datasets listed below and determined that they meet the criteria for “publicly available datasets.” However, many of the datasets listed have a publicly available component and a restricted use component. The use of data from these UNA HSC-approved public data sets is not considered human subject research as long as the following two criteria are met:

• Research will NOT involve merging any of the data sets in such a way that individuals might be identified
• Researcher will NOT enhance the public data set with identifiable, or potentially identifiable data

If the two criteria above are met and the research will involve data from a dataset listed below, no UNA HSC review or approval is needed. If both criteria are not met, HSC review is required.

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