Be A TRUST Data Contributor

Benefits Of being a TRUST Data Contributor

Last updated on 9 July 2026

TRUST’s success is dependent on strong collaborative partnership with the research community to generate value for our researchers as well as for the public.

TRUST deeply value the close partnerships with Data Contributors who make their research data available through TRUST. It is TRUST’s utmost priority to work closely with Data Contributors to support their research via TRUST, as well as to make their data available to the wider research community.

Further information can be found in the Data Contributor FAQ.

Note that the Data Contributor framework is separate from the option for a research team to ‘Bring Your Own Data’ (BYOD) to for linkage with TRUST data as part of a use case.

For this, please refer to Section D in the TRUST Data Request form for further information. Data Custodian approval and the required consent or waiver of consent for linking with TRUST data must also be secured.

As contributors to TRUST, Data Contributors will benefit from:

Improve Data Quality And Interoperability

Receive support from TRUST’s data cleaning team to clean their data in accordance with a harmonised format that meets international standards.
Improved data quality while retaining their rights to the ownership of their cleaned dataset. Data Contributors will always retain the free and unfettered right to use their cleaned dataset at their own discretion for any purpose outside of TRUST.

Gain Access To Real-World Data

Gain access to real-world data such as clinical and population data available on TRUST. This potentially maximises the value/ utility of their datasets since they will have the first mover advantage as a partner with TRUST.

Retain Exclusive Use Of Their Data During Exclusivity Period*

During the Exclusivity Period*, Data Contributors retain use of their datasets and determine who has access to the data.

* Note: Concept of “Exclusivity Period” introduced as a NMRC data sharing term for large-sized grants since 2019. Exclusivity period typically refers to either 24 months after the grant ends, or 12 months after publishing, whichever is earlier.

Expand Collaboration Network After Exclusivity Period*

After the Exclusivity Period, TRUST opens up the usage of the contributed datasets to a larger group of users. This will further expand the Data Contributor’s collaboration network.
Where the Data Contributor is a collaborator, the ownership of such Foreground IP shall be attributed or allocated between the Data Contributor and the Data Requestor in accordance with the terms of agreement between Data Contributor and the Data Requestor.
If the Data contributor is not a collaborator, Data Contributor shall still be granted non-exclusive and royalty-free licence to access and use the Foreground IP for its internal and non-commercial research purposes.