Main source: The Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS): Linking Health and Social Data in Brazil – PMC (nih.gov)

Here is a summary of the main points of the [web page about CIDACS](The Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS): Linking Health and Social Data in Brazil – PMC (nih.gov)):

• CIDACS stands for Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health, a research centre created in 2016 in Brazil to integrate data and knowledge on the health of the Brazilian population.
• CIDACS hosts several large-scale databases from government administrative systems, such as health, social, and education data, and performs data linkage to create cohorts and answer scientific questions.
• CIDACS has developed a data platform that provides data management functions, such as ingestion, storage, processing, linkage, curation, and access, using high-performance computational resources and secure environments.
• CIDACS follows the FAIR principles of data management and stewardship, as well as the ethical and legal norms for the use of personal data for research purposes.
• CIDACS aims to conduct interdisciplinary research, develop new scientific methodologies, and promote professional training using linked data, with a focus on the social determinants of health and the effects of social and environmental policies on health outcomes.

What are the impacts of CIDACS to public health?

CIDACS, or the Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health, has made significant contributions to public health. Here are some of the impacts:

1. Health and Social Data Linkage: CIDACS has been instrumental in linking health and social data in Brazil12. This has enabled researchers to answer scientific questions related to the health of the Brazilian population.
2. Evaluation of Social Programs: The data integrated by CIDACS has been used in numerous studies, including those evaluating the impact of social programs like the Brazilian cash transfer program (Bolsa Família) on health outcomes.
3. Resource for Researchers and Policymakers: CIDACS is seen as a valuable resource for researchers and policymakers interested in improving the evidence base in different aspects of health, as well as with regard to social aspects.
4. *Development of Social Disparities Index for Covid-19: A multidisciplinary team from CIDACS developed a Social Disparities Index for Covid-19 (IDS-COVID-19) to support the evaluation of effects of health inequalities on the pandemic in Brazil.

What are the rules of privacy and data protection in CIDACS?

CIDACS takes several measures to ensure data privacy and security:

1. Data Management: CIDACS follows rigid ethical precepts, norms, and procedures to guarantee the secrecy of individual data1. The data is processed in a high-performance computational environment.
2. Secure Environment: Data stored on Omolu, CIDACS’s computational resource, are accessed through a monitored environment, without Internet access, with security protocols and restricted access control.
3. Data Access: Datasets produced by CIDACS are currently made available only to research projects associated with their research platforms or in collaboration with CIDACS.
4. Data Anonymization: The collected data can be individually de-identified/anonymized.
5. Information Security: The center employs a complex data management system incorporating information security, ethical principles, and privacy protection.

What are some other research areas of CIDACS?

CIDACS is a center for data and knowledge integration for health, based in Brazil. It conducts interdisciplinary research on social determinants of health using integrated large-scale datasets. Some of its research areas are:

• Impact of social policies on health outcomes: This area investigates how social policies, such as Bolsa Familia (a conditional cash transfer program), affect the health and well-being of the population.
• Environmental and occupational health: This area studies how environmental and occupational factors, such as air pollution, climate change, and work conditions, influence the health of workers and communities.
• Chronic and infectious diseases: This area analyzes the epidemiology, prevention, and control of chronic and infectious diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, and COVID-19.
• Health informatics and data science: This area develops and applies methods and tools for data integration, linkage, analysis, and visualization, as well as for data governance, ethics, and security.

Can I access the databases hosted by CIDACS?

Yes, you can access the databases hosted by CIDACS, but there are certain conditions:

1. Limited Access: Datasets produced by CIDACS are currently made available only to research projects associated with their research platforms or in collaboration with CIDACS.
2. Data Anonymization: The data that you can access is de-identified/anonymized.
3. Authorization: CIDACS is expanding the number of authorized users who are granted access to its datasets.

Please note that you would need to follow the appropriate procedures for data production, access, and protection as outlined by CIDACS.