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Controlled Data Access

Some studies submitted to ImmPort contain sensitive clinical or genomic data that require additional access controls beyond standard ImmPort registration. Access to these studies is managed through AccessClinicalData@NIAID (ACD), a secure data sharing platform operated by NIAID.

Not all ImmPort studies require controlled access

The majority of ImmPort studies are openly available to any registered ImmPort user. Only studies explicitly designated as controlled-access will require the process described on this page.

What is AccessClinicalData@NIAID?

AccessClinicalData@NIAID (ACD) is a NIAID-managed platform for securely sharing and accessing sensitive clinical research data. It provides a governed access workflow — including identity verification and data use agreement — before granting access to protected datasets.

Studies hosted in ACD are linked from ImmPort study pages. Researchers who attempt to download controlled files from ImmPort will be directed to complete the ACD access request process first.

How to Request Access

Follow these steps to access a controlled study hosted in ACD:

Step 1 — Register on AccessClinicalData@NIAID

Visit https://accessclinicaldata.niaid.nih.gov and create an account or log in using your existing NIH Login credentials.

Step 2 — Locate the Study

Search for the study by its ImmPort accession number (e.g., SDY1760) or by disease/condition on the ACD platform. You may also navigate directly from the ImmPort study detail page — a link to the ACD study page will be displayed for controlled studies.

Step 3 — Submit a Data Access Request

On the study page in ACD, click Request Access. You will be asked to:

  • Provide your institutional affiliation
  • Describe your intended research use
  • Review and sign the Data Use Agreement (DUA) for the study

Step 4 — Await Approval

Data access requests are reviewed by the study's data access committee. Review times vary by study. You will receive an email notification when your request is approved or if additional information is needed.

Step 5 — Download the Data

Once approved, return to ACD to download the study files. Files are available directly through the ACD platform. Download activity for controlled studies is tracked by ACD — see Usage Metrics for details on how these counts are reported in ImmPort.

Example: IMPACC Study (SDY1760)

The Immunophenotyping Assessment in a COVID-19 Cohort (IMPACC) study is one example of an ImmPort-linked controlled dataset managed through ACD.

Restricted use

IMPACC data are limited to use for COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 basic and clinical research only.

Step-by-step guides are available for accessing IMPACC data:

Questions & Support

For questions about controlled data access or the ACD platform, contact: