Proprietary datasets are a useful and underutilized source for study. These datasets are proprietary in the sense that you must work with a mentor who has control of the data in order to gain access. The following SGIM members have generously offered to collaborate, particularly with junior investigators or fellows seeking to conduct research with their proprietary dataset. Please contact the SGIM member listed for each dataset directly for more information about opportunities to collaborate.
Click on the dataset name for more information about the proprietary dataset, including contact information.
| Study | Rational |
| Diabetes in Community-Dwelling, Nursing Home eligible Elders | To examine the relationship between glycemic control (Hemoglobin A1c) and geriatric syndromes (e.g. incontinence, functional decline, cognition) in a population enrolled in PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) general, it’s best to use the most de-identified dataset necessary to conduct the research |
| Premier Perspective | To examine health services for hospitalized patients in a 400+ network of hospitals. |
HERMITAGE - HIV+ Alcohol Users in USA and Russia
| The RCT tested the effectiveness of a US secondary HIV prevention intervention |
Cardiovascular Health Study (public access, limited through LADS)
| To understand the interrelationships of risk factors and subclinical vascular disease on clinical cardiovascular and other diseases of older adults |
Nurses Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (limited access)
| To understand the interrelationships of risk factors and subclinical vascular disease on clinical cardiovascular and other diseases of older adults |
Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area (MESA)
| The Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area (MESA) is a geographic region defined by zip codes where the great majority of residents choose to receive medical care at Marshfield Clinic, its regional centers and affiliated hospitals. It is a unique resource for population-based health research when combined with health data from the Marshfield Clinic.
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Randomized Trial of Achieving Healthy Lifestyles in Psychiatric Rehabilitation (ACHIEVE Trial)
| The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine the effectiveness of an 18-month behavioral weight loss intervention among persons with serious mental illness that attend psychiatric rehabilitation programs. |
CanCORS
| The data are useful for looking at patterns of care and quality of care for patients with lung or colorectal cancer as well as the outcomes associated with specific interventions. These data may provide an empiric basis for guidelines in areas for which no randomized trial data are available.
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Please attend to the following points to consider when working with someone else’s proprietary dataset:
- Working with your collaborator, talk with the IRBs at your institutions about how to share the data
- You may need to seek approval from a national IRB
- You may need to sign a data security agreement
- In general, it’s best to use the most de-identified dataset necessary to conduct the research.