DataSHIELD
- DataSHIELD (DS) is a widely deployed, scalable, open source software used for remote, federated, secure, non-disclosive analysis of sensitive data. DataSHIELD is used to analyse a wide range of data types and formats and is licensed through GNU GPL v3. The code (dsBase) is deposited on CRAN.
- Many research projects have to pool data from several studies in order to obtain sample sizes large enough to achieve statistically valid results. However, conventional literal data pooling is often impossible due to strongly enforced stringent legal and ethical prohibitions (data governance constraints) regarding sharing of individual-level data (that is, micro-data).
- DataSHIELD directly addresses and solves this problem, which is still often said to be intractable. DataSHIELD facilitates analysis of micro-data arising from several, collaborating data sources. DataSHIELD can be used in any setting where micro-data must be analysed but cannot be physically shared. DataSHIELD is used in single site and networked multi-site settings.
- Arjuna released DataSHIELD 6.3.1 on 12th November 2024.
