The Human Data Catalog is a tool that aims to list the databases used by the INCEPTION consortium and the means of accessing them.
Why a Human Data Catalogue Matters
Collecting human data is often a long, resource-intensive, and ethically complex process.
Reusing existing human data — while respecting all legal and ethical requirements — can significantly save time and enhance research efficiency.
Why Do We Need a Human Data Catalogue?
For researchers looking for data, the catalogue helps identify existing datasets generated by other teams that could support or complement ongoing studies.
For researchers producing data, it offers visibility and discoverability, ensuring that valuable datasets are not overlooked and can contribute to future scientific advances.
What Types of Databases Can Be Included?
The Human Data Catalogue includes databases containing:
- Raw individual human data, and/or
- Aggregated data that can no longer be linked to individuals.
Databases may be listed regardless of their level of accessibility, including:
- Open-access data, and
- Restricted or controlled-access data.
Our Focus: Raw Individual Data with Restricted Access
We place particular emphasis on raw individual-level databases, because they are:
- The least known to the research community,
- The most sensitive, as they contain personal information, and
- The hardest to share, due to strict legal and ethical constraints.
By cataloguing these datasets, we aim to bridge the gap between data creators and data users, fostering collaboration while maintaining respect for data privacy and integrity.
A Tool in Progress — Coming in 2026
The Human Data Catalogue is currently under development and will be publicly available in 2026.
Our goal is to create an intuitive, comprehensive, and secure platform that will empower researchers to easily identify, reference, and connect with existing human datasets worldwide.
Stay tuned — the project will be officially presented by Capucine Garnier Muller during the Inception Annual Symposium, where the team will unveil the platform’s main features and vision for the future of ethical human data sharing.