PIN Data or Specimen Use Request Process

1. A request for access to PIN data or specimens requires collaboration with one of the PIN Study's co-investigators (see Research Team). A discussion about the research topic and what data or specimens would be required must take place with an investigator before proceeding to the next steps.
2. An Data/Specimen Proposal Form must be submitted via email to Anna Maria Siega-Riz. 
3. The request will be evaluated by the investigators on the following basis:
   
   • scientific merit
   • sufficient power within the PIN data/specimens to address the aims
   • likelihood that the work will lead to publication
   • logistics and time required to assemble the analysis file (the project no longer has programmer support available)
   • whether specimens are available for the requested purpose
4. If the research is approved by the study team, you will be asked to (a) complete a Data Use Agreement Form, which provides guidance on use and security of the data, (b) have the collaborating study investigator sign it, and (c) mail it to Anna Maria Siega-Riz at CB #8120. (Data Use Agreement is in MS Word format.)
5. Using the PIN Study's documentation (PIN 1 and 2, PIN 3, or Postpartum), develop an electronic list of variables by their source file and the variable names. (See example below.)
   • Include specifications about any restrictions on the data set to limit it to a desired population, e.g., only women who have folate values or only women who completed the Life Events Questionnaire.
   • Review the list with the co-investigator.
   • Submit the requested list to Nancy Dole and the collaborating study investigator.
   • Be sure to include a date by which the analysis file is needed.  Because of limited programmer time, at least a month should be allowed to fulfill these requests.
     

Below is an example of a source file and variable list, from the PIN 1 and 2 data, to request creation of an analysis data set.  Pay particular attention to notations in the documentation that indicate multiple observations per respondent — such requests will be given to the requestor as separate, unmerged, data sets.

Example of an Analysis File Request

RESTRICTIONS: Restrict merged data set to women who have completed the Life Events Questionnaire.

From the tracking data set:
patid startprg delivdat momage24

From the studywide variables data set:
patid c_case2 c_bmiiom c_mrace c_marita c_momedu c_povert c_parity c_liveb c_prestb c_preptb c_premis c_inches

From the BV assay results data set:
patid sbscore

From the Life Events Questionnaire data set:
patid lef1-lef5 leg4a leg4b leg4c

From the Main Questionnaire data set:
patid mqg12a mqg12b mqg13 mqb87 mqb88 mqh1 mqh2 mqh3 mqh4 mqh5