Metadata Central

Approved users (listed below) may access file and field level summaries for BC Cancer, the Human Early Learning Partnership EDI, the BC Ministry of Health and BC Vital Statistics Agency via Metadata Central.

  • Researchers or project team members at any stage of the data application (DAR) process (feasibility, initial, proposed, applied or approved)
  • Anyone affiliated with a research or public institution, including health authorities, (e.g. BC Centre for Disease Control) and Public Service Agencies (e.g. BC Coroners Service)
  • Data Stewards and/or designated affiliates
  • Students enrolled in one of our Education and Training Unit courses


How to access Metadata Central

Access to Metadata Central is through the my.popdata website and you will need a my.popdata account to log in.

To request access to Metadata Central, please contact the Data Access Unit at dataaccess@popdata.bc.ca.

PLEASE NOTE: Access to Metadata Central is NOT AVAILABLE to users outside of Canada.

 

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

Image


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?

Image


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