Affiliations 

  • 1 Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
  • 2 Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
  • 3 Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • 4 Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Clinic Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
  • 5 Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
  • 6 Institute of Experimental Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  • 7 Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
  • 8 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
  • 9 Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
  • 10 Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • 11 Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 12 Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, RWTH Aachen Medical Faculty, Aachen, Germany
  • 13 Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • 14 Oxford E-Research Centre (OeRC), Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  • 15 Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
  • 16 DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
  • 17 School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre, London, UK
  • 18 DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
  • 19 Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany
  • 20 Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • 21 DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site RheinMain, Frankfurt, Germany
  • 22 Leibniz-Institut Für Analytische Wissenschaften, ISAS, E.V., Dortmund, Germany
  • 23 Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
  • 24 Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. peter.kohl@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Clin Res Cardiol, 2024 May;113(5):672-679.
PMID: 37847314 DOI: 10.1007/s00392-023-02303-3

Abstract

The sharing and documentation of cardiovascular research data are essential for efficient use and reuse of data, thereby aiding scientific transparency, accelerating the progress of cardiovascular research and healthcare, and contributing to the reproducibility of research results. However, challenges remain. This position paper, written on behalf of and approved by the German Cardiac Society and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, summarizes our current understanding of the challenges in cardiovascular research data management (RDM). These challenges include lack of time, awareness, incentives, and funding for implementing effective RDM; lack of standardization in RDM processes; a need to better identify meaningful and actionable data among the increasing volume and complexity of data being acquired; and a lack of understanding of the legal aspects of data sharing. While several tools exist to increase the degree to which data are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR), more work is needed to lower the threshold for effective RDM not just in cardiovascular research but in all biomedical research, with data sharing and reuse being factored in at every stage of the scientific process. A culture of open science with FAIR research data should be fostered through education and training of early-career and established research professionals. Ultimately, FAIR RDM requires permanent, long-term effort at all levels. If outcomes can be shown to be superior and to promote better (and better value) science, modern RDM will make a positive difference to cardiovascular science and practice. The full position paper is available in the supplementary materials.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.