Important Update: N3C COVID Data Transfer Agreements (DTA) and Data Availability Changes

The Data Transfer Agreements (DTAs) between institutions and NCATS for contributions to the N3C COVID Enclave were initially limited to a five-year term and will begin to expire in May 2025. This expiration is unrelated to the end of the COVID Public Health Emergency (PHE)—N3C COVID continues to operate as a public resource available to all investigators with an active institutional Data Use Agreement. As some institutions may choose not to renew their DTAs, data availability will change following the May 16, 2025 data release (cutoff date).

Key Points to Remember:

• Existing Projects: Existing research projects with a valid Data Use Request (DUR) will retain access to all historical data (including data from non-renewing sites). However, no new collaborators can be added to these projects after the cutoff date.
• New Projects: Researchers can continue to initiate new projects after the cutoff date. Those projects will only have access to data from institutions with active, renewed DTAs.
• Non-Renewing Institutions: If an institution does not renew its DTA, its data will be excluded from all future data releases.
• Renewing Institutions: For institutions that renew by the cutoff date, their data will remain accessible, including in future data releases.
• Late Renewals: DTAs executed after the cutoff date will be treated as new agreements. The data will be made available in future releases once new agreements are executed.

For Clarity:

• There is no impact to institutions participating in other N3C Clinical Enclaves (Cancer, Renal).
• Institutions participating in N3C Clinical sign a different Data Transfer Agreement.
• N3C COVID will continue to support existing DURs and new DURs.

Discontinuing your institution’s data contribution to N3C COVID does not affect your institution’s existing research projects. Investigators seeking to conduct new research projects can continue to benefit from this shared open resource.

Questions or comments can be referred to the N3C Program at ncatsn3cclinical@mail.nih.gov.