Research Data Management Platforms: Implementing FAIR Principles and Open Science in Practice
- Darina Dragouleva
- Feb 13
- 4 min read
In today’s data-intensive world, the concepts of FAIR data and Open Science have moved from aspirational and desired ideals to essential practice. The FAIR principles, which state that research data should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable provide the blueprint for achieving Open Science. Open Science is a movement focused on enhancing the management, accessibility and sharing of research data. Research Data Management Platforms are engineered to implement FAIR principles by design. As such, meeting these standards becomes an achievable and less complex part of the process.
What are FAIR principles?
The FAIR principles provide guidelines to improve the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reuse of digital assets. It focuses on making data usable for both humans and computers. FAIR does not automatically indicate “open data”. Data can be FAIR while being restricted for ethical, legal and commercial reasons as long as it remains findable and accessible.
A quick breakdown of what makes data FAIR.
Findability - For data to be reused, it has to be easy to find, both for humans and computers. Machine-readable metadata is crucial for automated discovery of datasets and services.
Accessibility - Once the data has been found, the user needs to understand how to access it. This requires a standardized communications protocol.
Interoperable - The data needs to be integrated with other datasets and interoperable with other workflows or applications. This requires using a formal, standard and accessible language.
Reusable - In order for data to be reused, replicated and combined in new research, it has to be well-described. The data is described with relevant attributes, released with a clear data usage license and detailed provenance and meets domain standards.
What is Open Science?
Open Science is a broader movement that aims to create a collaborative environment where data, information and knowledge is communicated between the scientific community and the public. It highlights the importance of sharing data, methods, software and publications so others can verify, reproduce and build upon the research. The goal of this initiative is to break down barriers between researchers, institutions, and the public, thereby accelerating scientific breakthroughs, understanding and knowledge.
What can RDM platforms do?
Research Data Management Platforms support the full RDM lifecycle, from data collection to archiving. These platforms support FAIR principles and Open Science.
Making Data Findable and Accessible - RDM platforms assign persistent, globally unique identifiers to datasets ensuring that the data can permanently be located. They also index datasets in searchable resources so that humans and machines can discover it. Lastly, the datasets are also described with rich and extensive metadata which helps with discovery, search and retrieval.
Facilitating Interoperability - RDM platforms support the use of common controlled vocabularies to standardize terms and variables, ensuring that data is understandable by both humans and machines across different research domains.
Facilitating Reuse - RDM platforms enable the use of standardized data usage licences, defining what users can do with the data. They also use Audit trails and detailed logs that track all actions taken within the research project by any member. This audit trail is searchable and sortable, allowing users to understand who did what and when. RDM platforms ensure that external users can accurately replicate the research and confidently reuse the data. Researchers can also refer back to specific states of the data throughout its lifecycle.
Simplify Collaboration - Support team collaboration, allowing teams to work together on data collection, handling, analysis and sharing in a controlled environment.
How myLaminin supports FAIR and Open Science
myLaminin is a Research Data Management platform that tackles the complexities of modern research data and supports FAIR and Open Science through its design.
Full RDM lifecycle support - myLaminin is the only generalist RDM solution that supports the full RDM lifecycle from project initiation, team and agreement management, data collection with PHI/PII data management through to the final publication. Role-based access controls, e-signature for data sharing agreements, and integrated ethics board workflows help researchers manage data securely and efficiently, and embeds FAIR practices from the very start.
Facilitates collaboration - myLaminin provides a consistent user interface to all research participants, regardless of their physical location. Users are also alerted when a colleague is in the research data repository and they can coordinate activities on the research data set in real time.
Realtime Audit Trails - myLaminin has a real-time audit trail of all actions taken within the research project by any member. This includes who accessed the data, how and when it was altered. This audit trail is searchable and sortable, allowing users to easily understand who did what and when. This is a key component of the Reusability principle as it builds trust and allows external auditors and reviewers to collaborate on research and use data.
Persistent IDs and Metadata Standards - myLaminin supports metadata standards like DataCite, DDI and Dublin Core, ensuring that datasets are documented, discoverable and interoperable. Datasets managed through myLaminin can be published and indexed, making them findable and accessible, a crucial component for reuse and collaboration. myLaminin also supports the important role of the Research Librarian in the review of datasets and proposed metadata before publication for completeness and accuracy.
Final thoughts
The biggest challenge with FAIR and Open Science is consistently embedding it into everyday research practice. FAIR principles become achievable when RDM platforms reduce complexity and make proper data management the default rather than an added burden. myLaminin addresses these needs by supporting the full RDM lifecycle, integrating governance, collaboration, and metadata standards from the very start of a project. FAIR and Open Science go from policy-driven requirements into practical and sustainable research behaviors.
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Darina Dragouleva (article author) is a myLaminin intern studying Health Sciences and Ivey AEO at Western University.
