What we do

We facilitate effective research and decision-making by providing access to secure, privacy-protected data and other resources.

At NB-IRDT, we:

• provide researchers with access to pseudonymized personal level administrative data in a secure, controlled environment, while ensuring that New Brunswickers’ privacy is protected
• conduct research on policy topics to support informed and effective government decision-making
• expand and support data stewardship and preservation
• support and contribute to effective knowledge dissemination
• develop research capacity through training
• are an integral part of the research infrastructure for the province of New Brunswick

We use safeguards to ensure that the data of New Brunswick citizens is secure and that their privacy is protected. All direct identifiers are removed from the data prior to receipt—such as names, Medicare numbers and addresses. To expand the scope of possible research, we give each file a unique number that allows us to link data between departments.

We protect citizens’ privacy

We restrict access to this information which is held in a highly secure facility and cannot be accessed from outside our lab. Each researcher who wishes to access our data goes through a rigorous application process to ensure the research question is valid and only the minimum information is provided to answer the research question. We make every effort to ensure every New Brunswicker’s privacy is protected.