Research Ethics Committees have a key role in the governance and oversight of research projects conducted on old data and on the use of platforms for data sharing on rare diseases. However RECs members usually do not have any expertise on linked data technologies. <div><div> In connection with Elixir, RD-Connect will make proposals to undertake a pilot training program for RECs on the most relevant ethical aspects of Linked Data technology, in particular:</div><div><br></div><div>•The values and principles lying behind a data linkage approach</div><div>•The risks and benefits of a data linkage based project</div><div>•The implications for informed consent and patient participation</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, REC evaluations and Informed Consent should be linked to other research activities and become computer readable, in order to automate the sharing of data for which consent or REC approval is available. </div></div
