Getting started with your Data Access Request (DAR)

1:
Define your research question.
2:
Make sure your project meets the eligibility requirements under the 5 SAFEs model
3:
Make sure that you, and your team members meet the eligibility criteria to apply for data.
4:
Identify the data sets and variables that you require to answer your research question.
5:
Complete and submit an Intake Meeting Request form. This meeting with a staff member from our Data Access Unit will help you to plan your DAR and give you the tools and information you need to complete and submit your DAR with confidence.

 

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Researcher Starter Kit

New to data access and don't know where to start? 

The resources below will help orient you to PopData, explain what a Data Access Request involves and outline the Data Access Request process. 


Watch our "Administrative Data and You" animation. It explains what we do, how we do it, and how population health research benefits all of us.


Learn about PopData: Who we are and what we do: an overview for Researchers (pdf)


What does a successful DAR look like?

This document shows what information was included in the various sections of a successful Data Access Request. Some information has been redacted for privacy reasons.  

File
DAR_example_1.pdf (791.84 KB)

Quick links


We are here to help!

The Data Access Unit (DAU) at Population Data BC (PopData) provides help and guidance to Researchers throughout the Data Access Request Process. Contact us at: dataaccess@popdata.bc.ca.

 

 

BC MoH Announcement

BC Ministry of Health logoPopData is sharing this announcement on behalf of the BC Ministry of Health


The BC Ministry of Health is announcing that data access for health research is transitioning to a new environment and safe setting leveraging Health Data Platform BC (HDPBC).

What is changing?

In April 2024, Health Data Platform BC (HDPBC) started accepting qualified new data access requests for academic projects requiring health data. The Platform’s Trusted Analysis Environment (TAE-BC) enables research in a secure cloud-based environment, with data availability spanning multiple health organizations as well as enabling a streamlined approval process path.

Starting in 2026, TAE-BC will be the target secure research environment for new and active/ongoing research projects requiring and using health data. As part of this plan, there is work underway to migrate all active and ongoing projects from PopData's Secure Research Environment (SRE) to the HDPBC's Trusted Analysis Environment (TAE-BC). 

Between now and 2026, qualified new projects will continue to be approved via Health Data Platform BC with any non-qualifying projects approved to be in PopData SRE and be transitioned to TAE-BC as part of the migration.

Tools and resources

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We provide a range of tools and resources to help Researchers during the data access process. 

We also offer professional courses and online workshops for analytic skills development.

> more info

Need pan-Canadian data?

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HDRN Canada's Data Access Support Hub (DASH) is a one-stop service portal, streamlining data access and harmonizing processes for researchers requiring multi-jurisdictional data in Canada. 

> more info