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Data Use Certificates (DUCs)

A Data Use Certificate (DUC) is a formal agreement between the requesting institution and the ARK data governance team that outlines the terms and responsibilities for accessing Controlled Access data. DUCs are required to help protect the privacy and confidentiality of research participants whose individual-level data may be included in the dataset. By signing the DUC, researchers and their institutions agree to use the data only for approved research purposes, follow applicable data security and ethical requirements, and avoid attempts to re-identify participants. The DUC process also helps ensure accountability by documenting which approved team members are authorized to access the data.

Completing the DUC

The current version of the DUC must be utilized for your Data Access Request to be approved. Please note that the terms of the DUC are non-negotiable and may not be modified. 

  1. Download the current DUC template available at https://www.synapse.org/Synapse:syn61813193.

  2. Add your team members: On the “Other Data Requesters” page of the DUC (pg 8), add full names and Synapse usernames and from all the team members at who will need access to the data. 

  3. Add Project Lead

  4. Add Signing Official: Signature: A signing official is someone from your organization who can speak to your affiliation and has good standing within the organization. Have this official review and sign the DUC. 

Note: you cannot serve as your own signing official and the signing official cannot be a user listed on the Access Request.

  1. Gather signatures:We will accept the following types of signatures:

    • A scan of a paper DUC signed with ink signatures.

    • Industry-accepted electronic signature methods.

  2. Proceed with Data Access Request via Synapse

The steps above are outlined in recorded webinar videos available provided below.

📄 ARK Portal DUC V4.1 Step 1 Prepare

Requesting additional DUC support

If you still have questions or issues related to a DUC, please contact our Access & Compliance Team (ACT). You can use any of the following methods to contact the ACT: