Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of FITBIR is to help accelerate TBI research by creating an infrastructure that integrates heterogeneous datasets allowing access to much more quality research data than an investigator would be able to collect independently. Generally, FITBIR provides the following capabilities:

• Standards to enable cross site meta-analysis and data comparisons across bioinformatics systems
• Deployment of useful bioinformatics tools for researcher use
• Promotion of the sharing of quality research data with the TBI research community
• Query access to a repository of phenotypic, genomic, imaging and pedigree research data.

FITBIR uses a module system called BRICS (Biomedical Research Informatics Computing System). The BRICS system is a collaborative and extensible web-based system that uses a set of modular components to support the collection of research studies and clinical trials.These modules support the vision of interconnectivity and collaboration among the research communities, as well as, provide a combination of web-based functionality and downloadable tools that support data definition, data contribution, and data access throughout the research life cycle. 

Please see User Guides for the modules, here.

FITBIR’s overarching governance is comprised of a structure that ensures FITBIR’s goals are conceived and executed via a framework that defines boundaries to ensure delivery of the strategic vision to the FITBIR stakeholder community. Each committee ensures the right stakeholders are engaged with the Publicis Sapient partners to shape the FITBIR project roadmap.

The approved FITBIR policy is available here, Policy

FITBIR stores data provided by TBI researchers. FITBIR accepts high quality research data from a number of projects, regardless of funding source and location, and is working to connect with relevant research repositories.

Any researcher who has acquired research data related to TBI may apply for approval to submit data to FITBIR.

All TBI or TBI-related applications for NIH/DOD funding are strongly encouraged to share their data with FITBIR (see solicitation for specific details). Applications should include a description of the principal investigator's intent to submit data to FITBIR, the type of data to be submitted and the anticipated time line for submissions. Clinical researchers must plan on utilizing the NINDS Common Data Elements (see www.commondataelements.ninds.nih.gov) and should plan to use the DOD definition of TBI. To support the costs associated with data submission, include the FITBIR Cost Model into the budget of your application.

• FITBIR Submission Costs
• Project Estimation Tool

FITBIR is an informatics system and data repository developed by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The funding for FITBIR has been provided by USAMRDC through CCCRP with NIH providing contributions in staff and technical resources. For more information, refer to the Funding Organizations page.

FITBIR does not currently house pre-clinical data. For more information on the development of pre-clinical CDEs click here.

There are several resources available for training and instruction on how to use FITBIR. Video tutorials are available for viewing. User guides are also available to review and download. Feel free to reach out to your FITBIR point of contact FITBIR-ops@mail.nih.gov if you would like additional instruction. 

 Please review the following steps for renewing a FITBIR account.

FITBIR Account Renewal Steps 

Updates to the FITBIR account, such as profile edits, password changes, and requesting additional privileges, can be made in the "Account Management" module in FITBIR.  

Users will find links to "Forgot your username?" and "Forgot your password?" at the login site.  

• Forgot your username? Click here.
• Forgot your password? Click here.

As stated in the FITBIR Data Access Request and FITBIR Data Submission Request documents, users may not share FITBIR accounts. Anyone who would like to access FITBIR must complete their own documentation and request their own account.  

After an account request has been completed on the FITBIR site, it is reviewed by the FITBIR Data Access Committee. The FITBIR Data Access Committee consists of members of both the Department of Defense and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Both sides must review and approve the account request before the requester can be given privileges to the FITBIR system. The review process takes about three to five business days.

If the account is approved, the requester will receive an autogenerated email from FITBIR stating that the account privileges are now active. If the account request is not immediately approved, the requester will received a message from FITBIR stating the reason for not being approved and what needs to be provided by the requester in order to be reviewed again. 

A PseudoGUID is unique ID that is not based on PII. If the study is unable to obtain necessary PII in order to generate the GUID for a study participant, a PseudoGUID can be requested. PseudoGUIDs can be converted to GUIDs if the necessary PII is available after the PseudoGUID has been created.  

NOTE: Please provide the following information in order to request PseudoGUIDs: 

1. What PII is missing to prevent the creation of GUIDs? 

2. Why is the PII missing? 

3. Is the research team able to retrieve the information for the subjects? 

4. Will the research team collect the required PII for future participants in the study?

5. What is the target population size for the study?

6. How many subjects are currently enrolled? 

7. How many subjects need PseudoGUIDs? 

1. Please refer to the GUID User Guide Section 6.4.2 for further instructions. 
2. To generate multiple PseudoGUIDS, perform the following actions:
   • Navigate to the GUID Client Dialog Box. The GUID Client Dialog Box opens. Select Functions to open the drop-down menu. Select Create multiple PseudoGUIDs. The Generate PseudoGUID dialog box appears. Enter the number of PseudoGUIDs and click the Generate button. The "Your PseudoGUIDs are Ready" dialog box appears. Click Download Results and open file. 
   • Prior to generating multiple PseudoGUIDs, study must obtain permission from Grant Funding Organization.  

The FITBIR GUID tool runs local on an individual’s computer and no PII is ever transferred to FITBIR during the GUID creation process. The GUID client (on your personal computer) uses personally identifiable information to derive a series of one way hashes which securely encrypt PII information. One way hashes are sent off to the GUID server for reference and storage. No personally identifiable information is ever sent to the system. The GUID tool application has been operational several years with unique instances of the GUID tool being implemented in several projects such as NDAR, PDBP, and GRDR. 

There is useful information about the GUID process here. Also, click here for a published paper talking about GUIDs for the NDAR program.

The main function of ProFoRMS is to provide the tools that help to optimize the clinical study process, including the basic functions of managing protocols, subjects as well as data access and account management.

E-forms are electronic versions of the form structures found within the FITBIR Data Dictionary. Unique E-forms can be created by users who are given the necessary E-form account permissions.

E-Forms are found within the Data Dictionary.

Yes, with the necessary administrative account privileges, users can allow patient self-reporting within their study protocol.

The FITBIR Informatics System includes a full range of data from TBI patients and controls enrolled in studies funded by the DoD and NIH. The data that is included in the FITBIR system includes imaging, clinical assessments and omics data. FITBIR continually works with teams to submit their data with the intention to share with other FITBIR data access users.

Both the DoD and NIH strongly recommend CDE compliance for all clinical TBI studies, particularly those with a FITBIR data submission requirement. Moreover, it is expected that investigators align their non-outcome measures with existing non-outcome CDE forms that have been developed and are available at the NINDS CDE website or through FITBIR. For any grant with a FITBIR data submission requirement, non-compliance with NINDS CDEs will require programmatic approval. Studies investigating outcomes outside of the TBI CDEs should use NINDS CDEs found in other disease areas or through searching the FITBIR Data Dictionary that has over 400 standardized forms available. As with non-CDE usage, incorporating non-TBI CDEs requires prior Programmatic approval.

Please reach out to your FITBIR Point of Contact for additional guidance.

Updated Policy Information (07/06/2017) can be found here. 

Twelve months after the award period ends, data and supporting materials will be open to all qualified and approved researchers. Please visit FITBIR's Policy page for documents pertaining to sharing policy and data access.

If your FITBIR account credentials are up to date, you may view your Data Access Report located in your study profile in the Data Repository. This table shows you who accessed your data, when they did, how many records were downloaded, and if it was accessed through the Data Repository or Query Tool.

Users have access to all shared studies as well as their own. If you have Data Access privileges you may access data through the Data Repository and Query Tool. If you have Data Submission privileges you may access data through the Data Repository.

A subset of form structures in the data dictionary are now subject to extra-validation rules when submitting data against them.

CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values. From the query tool, users can download data in two formats, "flattened" and "unflattened" CSVs. The "flattened" CSV creates additional data element columns for repeatable group data whereas the "unflattened" CSV retains the original data element group structure and provides the repeatable group data within the rows of the CSV (as how it appears in the data table within the Query Tool). 

Users have access to all shared studies and any studies that they have been granted permission to view.

If your account has been approved for access to the Meta Study module, you may begin the process of creating a meta study. To create a meta study within the module you must fill out the mandatory fields then click the submit button. Your study request will be reviewed by a system administrator. Once the system administrator approves your request, you can start submitting data to the study. Please see the User Guide page for more in depth information on creating a Meta Study.

The Meta Study stores your study overview and information, defined queries or data artifacts, and additional documentation. Meta Study may also be used as a means for storing and referencing (via DOI) results of analysis that are not otherwise in the BRICS system.

Overall, the intended use of the biosamples represented by the various cohorts is for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) biomarker discovery, optimization, and replication.

The cohorts and associated biosamples that can currently be accessed include: LETBI. Additional cohorts will be available later in 2022.

Yes, we welcome applications by investigators from academia and industry from US and non-US institutions.

Please find study-specific instructions for accessing clinical and biologic data from the cohorts available through the TBI Biosample Resource Allocation Committee (BRAC) below:

• The best way to access the clinical and biological data available for FITBIR biosamples to is request an account, as described here.

We have outlined the general steps on how to apply here. First, we encourage you to learn about the different cohorts and the types of biosamples available through the different websites, as listed. We also recommend contacting staff to find out the availability of samples that fit your exclusion-inclusion criteria. Once you have determined whether the samples you need are available, your next step is to submit an online application. Your application will then be reviewed by the TBI-BRAC and will receive a decision of approved, to be approved upon satisfactory revision, or denied.

Within the webform, applicants are required to upload these documents: a biosketch, Research Strategy (4 page limit), and a table summary of samples of Interest. The first page of the webform requires the investigator to fill in basic information (e.g. name, institution, address) and to upload the biosketch. The second page of the webform requires the investigator to upload the application files (Research Strategy and Table Summary) and to provide information about funding support for the study.

The TBI Biosample Resource Access Committee (BRAC) reviews the applications for biosample access and its members are listed here. TBI-BRAC reviewers are required to avoid any real or perceived conflict of interest and subscribe to the ethical requirements as described within the Conflict of Interest document. The BRAC Review is coordinated by Christine Swanson-Fischer, Ph.D

The TBI Biosample Resource Access Committee (BRAC) meets approximately 5 times a year. Specific submission time windows and review dates are listed here.

Investigators will be notified by email the outcome of the review (i.e. approve, approve upon revisions, or deny) within a week after the review meeting. Summary statements are released within 2-3 weeks after review. For applications that were ʻapproved upon revisionʼ, investigators will be notified about concerns that would need to be addressed before the application could move forward.

Review priorities include the experimental rationale, feasibility/reproducibility of the assays, expertise of the investigator, availability of institutional resources to support the study, and the statistical analysis of the number of samples required for hypothesis testing:

The TBI-BRAC uses the following guide questions when considering a sample request:

• Is there sufficient evidence supporting the likelihood of this study identifying novel biomarkers or of otherwise contributing important knowledge regarding disease etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, or treatment?
• Is the project technically feasible and, if preliminary data is provided, does the assay/platform utilized provide robust and reproducible results?
• Do the investigators sufficiently justify the use of the resources?
• Do the investigators have the expertise, personnel, and institutional setting to achieve the goals of the proposal?
• Is the number of samples requested reasonable and sufficiently powered to achieve statistical significance for hypothesis testing and to demonstrate conservation of the resource (i.e. are the number of samples requested sufficient but not in excess of what is needed)? The NINDS FITBIR staff will provide information on available inventory.

This depends whether the study has funding or not:

• If the study has funding, the samples are distributed to the investigator following a virtual meeting to introduce the sample distribution process ("on-boarding") and after fulfillment by the investigator of the additional requirements specified by the selected repository (i.e. MTA, Data Use Agreement, fees, data analysis and sharing plan). For questions, please contact Christine Swanson-Fischer, PhD.
• If the investigator has yet to obtain funding for the study, the BRAC will issue a letter to the applicant documenting provisional access to the samples requested. This letter can be used to support an application for funding opportunities from the NIH or other organizations. Conditional approvals will be valid for a period of up to 9 months.

You will receive an email from the TBI-BRAC Coordinator summarizing the reviewersʼ critiques about your application. You will need to address these critiques by email and your response will be sent back to the reviewers to be evaluated.

You are welcome to re-apply if you feel you will be able to adequately address the flaws identified in your summary statement.

We do not provide funding. Also, samples are released only if the investigator has demonstrated funding for the proposed study through a signed letter by the investigator’s Authorized Institutional Signing Official.

You can still apply for biosample access, especially if your upcoming grant application needs a letter of support documenting approval of access to biosamples if funded. Thus, if your application is approved by the TBI-BRAC, a provisional letter of approval will be provided for your grant application.

For NINDS funding opportunities, the investigator is encouraged to contact Nsini Umoh for more information.

Each cohort may have additional documentation requirements such as a Biospecimen Use Agreement, Data Use Agreement, and/or Publication Policy, which must be acknowledged and received before samples are sent to the requestor. Specific contact information for each cohort represented under the TBI-BRAC can be found at this website.

NOTE: One condition to receive TBI-BRAC approved biospecimens is the return of data to a database associated with each TBI cohort (i.e. FITBIR). There is an embargo period associated with each database, allowing time for investigators to publish their data before data is made available to the scientific community.

Within 7 days after demonstration of funding and formal TBI-BRAC approval, the investigator will be contacted by the Post-BRAC coordinator, Christine Swanson-Fischer, PhD, to schedule an on-boarding webinar teleconference with NINDS, BioSEND, FITBIR Operations (for FITBIR study cohort). This introductory call will review the process for distributing biosamples to the investigator such as:

• Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)
• Sample selection
• Any balancing requirements for assay
• Blinded sample distribution
• Distribution of reference pool biosamples for quality control
• Return of data and methods documentation

Biospecimen reference pools including CSF, plasma, and serum (depending on the TBI cohort) are generated from residual volume. The goal is to provide researchers access to shared reference samples that can be used for normalization and standardization across sites, platforms and assays.

All other questions should be directed to ninds-tbi-brac@ninds.nih.gov