Background: The ARIC study has substantial data and specimen which should be available to the widest possible group of investigators to promote the highest caliber science possible. However, study contract resources are focused on the conduct of the study itself with increasing demands of a large surveillance program and ongoing activities. Ancillary studies involve a number of costs which individually are quite modest but added together over all ARIC operating units and across dozens of active studies can over-tax the study resources.

 

The ARIC study has developed a general policy for minimal charges to ancillary studies. Exceptions can be requested. These will be considered on a case by case basis.

 

 

The Coordinating Center will determine if the data set or request is 'simple' and will increase charge appropriately for large or complicated data sets or analyses.

 

The following is a guideline for determining request cost categories:

Simple = one visit, <=100 variables (variables outlined with ARIC variable names)

Moderate = multiple visits and/or outcome data <=100 variables (variables outlined with ARIC variable names).

Advanced = multiple visits and/or outcome data > 100 variables.

Exceptions can be made (up or down, including higher than the "advanced" level) by the CC as determined by the request. Conditions to consider are if the CC has to redo an IRB, create derived variables or do other administrative tasks.