Data on the ARK Portal depends on contributions from research participants and researchers. We work with contributors to set the appropriate access level for each dataset. Data are classified as either Registered Access or Controlled Access based on their sensitivity. Regardless of access type, using ARK Portal data requires becoming a Registered Synapse user.
Registered Access Data
ARK Portal data that is available under the registered access tier can be downloaded by any registered Synapse user and does not require an approved and active ARK Data User Certificate.
Starting exploring registered access data at: https://www.synapse.org/Synapse:syn39424219.
Controlled Access Data
Human subjects data in ARK includes potentially sensitive information. Misuse of this data could potentially cause harm to those individuals or groups and is thus made available under Controlled Access.
Controlled access data can only be downloaded and used by authorized users and teams upon approval of a Data Access Request. Detailed steps for completing a data access request are outlined in the Data Access Requests documentation.
More information on Synapse’s data access types is available at https://docs.synapse.org/synapse-docs/data-access-types.