WAGER Data

Databases

Underpinning the WAGER collections and the study support capabilities are five key databases all of which are stored centrally in a highly secure location:

1. The WAGER Study Management Database holds all identifying information for study participants for those studies which are being conducted utilising the WAGER Study Manager and Laboratory Information Management (LIMS) applications. The Study Management Database can only be accessed for the purposes of data collection for a study. The Study Management Database cannot be accessed by any of the WAGER Portal data analysis tools.
2. The WAGER Biospecimen Database contains the sample collection, extraction and location details for biospecimens collected for selected studies. This database is only accessible via the Biogenix Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
3. The WAGER Analysis datasets contain the phenotypic, genotypic, pedigree and relevant non-identifying subsets of the demographic data required for data analysis.
4. The WAGER Patient Register (PR) holds all demographic (identifying) information for all study participants. Identifying information includes name, date-of-birth, sex and address of each subject in the contributing studies recorded in the Analysis Database. No clinical data is recorded in the PR. The PR is hosted by the DLU and cannot be accessed from WAGER Portal.
5. The WAGER Study Register (SR) provides information about the research data such as what tests were performed and when these tests were conducted. No actual measurements of result data are copied or stored, only an indicator as to whether a particular test was carried out. No patient data are recorded in this database. Linkage between de-identified subjects in the Study Register and with data kept in the WA statutory collections (all births, deaths, hospitalisations, mental health services contacts, cancer registrations) and additional population disease registers and health surveys is maintained using an encrypted Study Register subject key and a non-identifying subject key provided by the Data Linkage Unit (DLU). The DLU is a collaboration between the Information Collection and Management Branch at the Department of Health WA, the Centre for Health Services Research at the University of WA, the Division of Health Sciences at Curtin University of Technology, and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. This database is used by the Metadata Explorer application.

Data Security

A dedicated computer room has been built in a secure, restricted access area. This room is equipped with a dedicated air-conditioning system with remote environmental monitoring. Physical security for the room has been enhanced with the installation of continuous closed circuit TV (CCTV) surveillance monitoring.

The Oracle database is the primary database technology platform used for storing data on WAGER. The database is hosted on a scalable Fibre Channel RAID Disk array subsystem configured for performance, redundancy and fault tolerance.

Automated high-capacity tape backups are implemented to prevent loss of data due to disaster and to aid data recovery. Tape backups are configured to produce multiple copies, one copy which is sent to secure offsite storage facility. Multiple firewalls are deployed to secure and to protect against unauthorised network access or intrusion into the network services and database servers established in the WAGER informatics hub. Change auditing mechanisms are in place to detect and report any unauthorised change activity.