Importing and exporting files using the Airlock¶

Genomics England takes data security, and our promise of confidentiality to our participants and patients very seriously. Our Secure Research Environment (RE) should be viewed as a reading library rather than a lending library – nothing can be removed without permission. You must carry out all your analysis within the Research Environment and the only data you can export are your final results.

The Airlock enables material (data, files, tools etc) to be moved in or out of the RE in a controlled and supervised manner; facilitating research and discovery, while maintaining control of security and access.

By adopting this approach to data security we can allow you to access a richer dataset than would otherwise be possible. Furthermore, as new datasets become available and the longitudinal datasets expand, there is no need for you to continually reapply for access. We can also use the Airlock to protect data that belongs to other data providers, who have agreements with Genomics England.

Transcribing data out of the RE, screenshotting or screen sharing with anyone who is not an approved RE user is strictly forbidden. In cases where a researcher has removed data without an approved Airlock request Genomics England reserves the right to ban the researcher’s institution, and all their researchers, from access to the Research Environment and pursue legal action against both the individual and the institution.

Within these documents you will find:

Why the Airlock is in place¶

Protecting the privacy of our participants, the people who have donated their genomes and medical records to our Research Environments, is our first priority when allowing researchers access to our data. You can only do research on these data because the participants allow us to share their data with you. They allow us to do this because they trust us, and by extension you, to keep their identities safe.

Participants have given consent for Genomic England to use their data on the agreement that:

‘…although researchers can look at your data and ask questions about it, they can only take away the answers to their questions (their results). They can’t copy or take away any of your individual data.’

For this reason, Genomics England does not allow the re-identification of any participant outside the Research Environment – either from the material alone, or through aggregation with other data available now or in the future. The Airlock systems and processes are therefore designed to prevent identifiable data being released from the Research Environment without the consent of the individual concerned.

Clinical care data¶

If you require data for clinical care, this is not covered by the Airlock. The Airlock applies specifically to the data for research found in the RE.

How to use the Airlock tool to import and export files¶

To import and export files, you will need to use the Airlock/File Transfer tool.

What you can and can't export¶

You can export data that are non-identifiable and are the final results of your analysis.

Individual level data and case studies¶

If you are working on a case study or an analysis with a very small number of participants, please read this document for more details on exporting the results.

How we process your application to import and export data¶

Your request will be considered by the Airlock Team, who will determine if the data is non-identifiable and if it matches the objectives of the research project you have been approved to do. In some cases they may need to consult with the Airlock Committee or other subject matter experts, particularly if your file involves individual level data or novel use cases of NGRL data. You can learn more in this document.