SAFs : Contents : Data Release Process : Sample Materials Download

View the data process flow here.

1. Submit request to SRTR
   
   We encourage you to review all of the information posted on this website about SAFs. Once you have reviewed the information about what you can obtain through the use of SRTR SAFs, please complete the Contact Us. Use the description field to indicate your request for a SAF, and provide some detail regarding the research to be conducted with the SAF.
   
   
2. SRTR preliminary review
   
   The SRTR will do a preliminary review based on your brief description for a request for a SAF. The SRTR will work with you to troubleshoot and anticipate any potential problems in reaching the approval stage of this process. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted via email.
   
   
3. Researcher completes Agreement
   
   When the SRTR has determined that your initial request is plausible through the use of an SRTR SAF, you will receive a response from the SRTR asking you to complete an “Agreement For Release Of Data.” With the submission of Agreement, you must submit a formal research plan (2-3 pgs). You are also asked to complete a security plan, indicating how the SAFs will be used, stored and protected.
   
   
4. If the request requires patient-identifiers,
   you need IRB documentation and approval by the SAC and PO
   
   a. If you indicated on the Agreement that patient-identifiers (SSN, patient name, date of birth) were necessary for the specified research, you must obtain IRB documentation from your institution and submit the documentation to the SRTR.
   
   b. You also must have approval from the SRTR Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the SRTR Project Officer (PO), both of which will require IRB documentation for possible approval. The SAC meets quarterly throughout the year and therefore requests for patient-identified data may take longer than requests for SAFs without patient-identifiers.
   
   
5. SRTR approval
   
   Upon receipt of the Agreement, research plan, and security plan, the SRTR will review all components and either approve the request, ask for additional clarification or possible edits, or not approve the request with specific reasons. During the approval process the SRTR staff reviews the research question, looking for a clear and legitimate scientific purpose with sufficient merit to the transplant community, the appropriate data for study design, and the security of the data.
   
   
6. The agreement is signed by all parties
   
   Once approval is granted for the components of the Agreement (including the research and security plans), the appropriate parties will sign the Agreement.
   
   
7. SAFs released to researcher
   
   The SAFs are prepared and sent to the address indicated on the agreement. You will also receive a copy of the signed agreement.

The time to complete a request for SRTR SAFs is at a minimum of 2 months. This timeframe is based on the details of the request, how many requests for SAFs are in the queue, security measures, IRB documentation, and the request for patient-identified data.