Data Management in Life Sciences

A special issue of Data (ISSN 2306-5729).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 727

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: data management; bioinformatics; databases; genomics; metagenomics; sensitive data; health infrastructures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing volume and complexity of scientific data have made effective data management a cornerstone of reproducible, collaborative, and impactful research. This Special Issue aims to explore current advances in data management practices, with particular focus on interoperability, metadata quality, and the implementation of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles. Close attention will be paid to tools and frameworks that address challenges across the data lifecycle, from acquisition and curation to sharing and reuse.

As regulations around privacy, ethics, and data protection become more rigorous—especially with regard to human and sensitive data—there is a growing demand for data infrastructures that are not only technically robust, but also legally and ethically compliant. This evolving landscape presents both challenges and opportunities: managing access and consent with care, while enabling responsible innovation through federated access models and secure data governance.

We welcome contributions presenting practical solutions, case studies, and policy-aware systems with demonstrable real-world impact in the fields of life sciences, health, environmental research, and beyond. Researchers, data stewards, and infrastructure developers, particularly those engaged in large-scale, cross-border initiatives, are all eligible to participate. Together, we aim to showcase how careful, standards-driven data management can drive scientific excellence in a sensitive, secure, and scalable manner. 

Dr. Jorge dos Santos Oliveira
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • data management
  • FAIR principles
  • metadata standards
  • sensitive data handling
  • federated data access
  • data governance
  • interoperability
  • data stewardship
  • reproducible research
  • research data infrastructures

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 1054 KB  
Article
Perspectives on Research and Personalized Healthcare in the Context of Federated FAIR Data Based on an Exploratory Study by Medical Researchers
by Elena Poenaru, Monica Dugăeşescu, Călin Poenaru, Iulia Andrei-Bitere, Livia-Cristiana Băicoianu-Niţescu, Traian-Vasile Constantin, Aurelian Zugravu, Brandusa Bitel, Maria Magdalena Constantin and Smaranda Stoleru
Data 2025, 10(11), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/data10110187 - 11 Nov 2025
Viewed by 402
Abstract
Background: Research in personalized medicine, with applications in oncology, dermatology, cardiology, urology, and general healthcare, requires facile and safe access to accurate data. Due to its particularly sensitive character, obtaining health-related data, storing it in repositories, and federating it are challenging, especially [...] Read more.
Background: Research in personalized medicine, with applications in oncology, dermatology, cardiology, urology, and general healthcare, requires facile and safe access to accurate data. Due to its particularly sensitive character, obtaining health-related data, storing it in repositories, and federating it are challenging, especially in the context of open science and FAIR data. Methods: An online survey was conducted among medical researchers to gain insights into their knowledge and experience regarding the following topics: health data repositories and data federation, as well as their opinions regarding data sharing and their willingness to participate in sharing data. Results: The survey was completed by 189 respondents, the majority of whom were attending physicians and PhD candidates. Most of them acknowledged the complex, beneficial implications of data federation in the medical field but had concerns about data protection, with 75% declaring that they would agree to share data. A general lack of awareness (80%) about the importance of interoperability for federated data repositories was observed. Conclusions: Implementing federated data repositories in the health field requires thorough understanding, knowledge, and collaboration, enabling translational medicine to reach its full potential. Understanding the needs of all involved parties can shape the success of medical data federation initiatives, with this study serving as a foundation for further research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data Management in Life Sciences)
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