The purpose of MyResearch is to provide UCSF research teams with a professionally managed, secure, web based, collaborative environment in which to store files containing sensitive data. It provides application and data base services that allow investigators to view, manipulate, and save their data entirely in this protected environment without requiring files to be stored on their own computers. It also provides access to applications they might not be on your local desktop such as SAS, STATA, and SPSS. In addition, a file upload capability enables you to upload even large files in a matter of minutes.
MyResearch works via a remote display capability. Data files and applications, such as Excel or SAS, reside on our secure servers. When you start an application, it runs on our servers, but it is displayed on your local monitor. It looks and feels as if it is running on your own computer, but it isn’t. This provides great security because files containing sensitive data never leave our data center, yet you can use familiar tools to manipulate and analyze that data as if it resided on your own computer.
MyResearch is available to all UCSF faculty and staff and to non-UCSF collaborators who are working with a member of the UCSF community.
Authentication is done through Campus, SOM and UCSFMC domain accounts . Non-UCSF collaborators will be provided with accounts that are specific to MyResearch.
To sign up, contact the IT Service Desk at 514-4100. The Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Or fill out an online application at https://ucsf.service-now.com/ess/order_accounts.do .
Support personnel are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. Please contact its-arssupport@ucsf.edu or you can call the IT Service Desk at 514-4100 and submit a ServiceNow ticket. There is a phone, e-mail and web based ticketing system to track all issues. The data center is supported 24/7.
MyResearch is hosted at the ECDC Campus at UCSF and is housed in a locked and guarded data center staffed at all hours (24 X 7). Entrance to the data center requires users to pass biometric scans and to enter personal codes. Physical access to the MyResearch servers requires additional codes. The MyResearch servers are guarded by multiple firewall and intrusion detection systems. All electronic connections to the MyResearch environment are encrypted.
All the data is backed up at UCSF.
Yes, the servers are available 24/7 except every Thursday evening from 6-11.59pm due to system maintenance.
(PIs) with up to 10 gigabytes are provided data storage without charge. Data storage over 10 gigabytes will be provided to PIs at the enterprise cost, which is currently $0.24 per gigabytes ($0.10 for data storage and $0.14 for HIPAA-compliant backups). As with consulting services, the majority of PIs should not incur data storage charges.
In general there is sufficient space to handle typical researcher requirements. Large file requirements will be handled on a case by case basis. Current storage capacity exceeds 30 Terabytes.
There is no limit to the number of studies you can have.
There are no plans to purge data from the site.
No, this service provides a safe storage facility for your data. You are responsible for complying with data security regulations.
Your data can be accessed from any PC or Mac connected to the Internet. Access will require use of the login credentials associated with your account.
Data is uploaded to MyResearch using the MyTransfer tool.
Yes, data can be transferred to your local encrypted device. However, it is highly recommended that all work be done on the secure desktop. As of February, 2009, maximum fines are $1.5 million (Federal) and $250,000 (State) for malicious or negligent use of PHI data. California law allows fines to be levied against individuals in addition to those levied against institutions, and several such incidents have already occurred.
Only you or the collaborators you designate will have access to your files. To ensure the security of MyResearch, you must never share your login or password with anyone else.
Data is accessed a familiar manner. Files can be viewed directly via the Windows Explorer file manager, or they can be loaded by an application such as MS Excel or SAS, or files can be managed in a somewhat more sophisticated manner using a document management system. Currently, that system is Microsoft SharePoint.
When you print a document in MyResearch, it will be converted to a PDF file and displayed in a tab in the browser you used to connect to MyResearch. From there, you can print it to any printer you have access to from your desktop.
MAC users will need to download "Microsoft Remote Desktop". PC users do not need to download anything.
Yes, you will need to install the Remote Desktop Client for iOS.
You can read more about SharePoint at SharePoint Overview.
Here are some feedback and comments we have received to date:
“Thank you, this is a wonderful resource”
“This is really beneficial for researchers to have all these statistical analysis programs available for free!”
“Good! Now I don’t have to worry about anyone working on my studies losing their laptop!”
“Thanks for answering all my MyResearch questions for me!”
Please check that you are using your correct account that was provided access to log into MyResearch. If you still cannot access MyResearch using your campus credentials, please call the IT Service Desk at 514-4100 to help them reset your password here. If you have a non-UCSF MyResearch account, please email its-arssupport@ucsf.eduand they will help you reset your password.
You can call the IT Service Desk at 514-4100 or email its-arssupport@ucsf.edu with any questions.
