Research Data Services Guide
Choose from an array of data services to support and enhance your clinical and translational research projects. Requests will be entered into the service queue according to the Service Prioritization Levels
Service fees are applicable to services provided by staff based at West Virginia University, effective January 5, 2026. Please see the November 2025 memo (PDF) from WVU Health Sciences Chancellor and Executive Dean Clay Marsh and Interim Vice President of Research Ming Lei.
**Special Announcements**
Informational Sessions
- Monday, February 23, 12 to 1 p.m. - Hybrid Session taking place via Zoom and in-person in room G150 of the WVU Erma Byrd Biomedical Research Building (WVCTSI Large Conference Room)
Additional Access Hours for January
- Research Services Manager Meg Hardman will be holding additional Access Hours during January 2026 where you can virtually connect with her to ask questions about the research data services request and delivery process.
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Data Services Menu
WVCTSI's data services have been grouped into the following categories. Select which category best fits your primary request to determine the hourly rate. The prices listed here are for the 2026 fiscal year and go into effect January 5, 2026.
A downloadable version of the Research Services Guide including Service Menu and Prioritization Levels is also available here.
- Includes study design, sample size calculations, data management advice, statistical analysis, result interpretation, dissemination of methods & results, interpretation of statistical methods found in the literature
- $74.63/hour
- Research datasets from WVU Medicine electronic health record data, research registry creation and support, data management
- $77.50/hour
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning & Data Science
- Advanced analytics consultation, data cleaning and transforming, statistical and machine learning modeling
- $83.75/hour
Geographic Information Services (GIS)
- Small area estimation, hotspot analysis, map creation, access and support for GIS software
- $57.50/hour
- Image data set pulls and image deidentification, image processing, imaging research project consultations, access and support for the HIPAA-compliant high performance computing cluster
- $57.50/hour
- The online REDCap application allows users to build and manage online surveys and databases quickly and easily.
- $37.50/hour
- Large volumes of data require significant storage capacity. The following pricing structure details the yearly rates for secure storage in various sizes.
- Cost Per Year:
- 250 GB $58.23
- 500 GB $116.47
- 750 GB $174.70
- 1 TB $232.94
- 2 TB $465.87
- 3.84 TB $894.87
- 5 TB $1,164.68
- 10 TB $2,329.35
Hourly fees have been developed in accordance with WVU Finance procedures based on the cost of staff time to perform one hour of the identified services.
Data Services Prioritization Levels
- Current WVCTSI Research Scholars, Pilot Grant Recipients, Data for funding proposal submission - Fees Waived
- Funded projects*
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Unfunded faculty investigator projects;*
Unfunded student research projects* (all student projects must have a faculty mentor serving as PI)
*Denotes subject to service fees
Getting Started
Downloadable Flow Chart Coming Soon!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can investigators still receive services if they are not preparing a grant proposal?
Yes. Even if you are not preparing a grant application and are not a member of one of the prioritized groups (such as WVCTSI Research Scholars, pilot grant recipients, etc), you may still request and receive services. WVCTSI supports the growth and development of the research community to advance biomedical science in West Virginia.
2. If I already have a request or project in the queue on January 5, 2026, is my project subject to the service fees?
No. Only new service requests submitted after January 5 are subject to the fee structure. HPC storage fees may be applied prior to the January date.
3. What is the cost for initial consultations? Are they done in-person or virtually?
The initial consultations are no-cost and can be done either in-person or via Zoom. Consultation time will vary depending on service requested and consultation time will conclude at a clearly defined end point.
4. Will the initial consultation time be with a generalist or with staff with related skillsets and expertise?
The consultation will include the staff member(s) assigned to work on your project and a team leader/administrator and may also include those with interdisciplinary expertise depending on the nature and complexity of the request/project.
5. How will billing be handled?
At the end of the consultation, an estimated quote will be provided. Service users will be billed quarterly by the WVCTSI Finance team for services rendered if fees apply. If the scope of a request or project is changed by the investigator/research team after the initial quote is issued and work has begun, WVCTSI reserves the right to amend the quote to properly reflect the adjusted time and services needed to address the changes.
6. How were the hourly rates determined?
Hourly rates were developed based on the cost of staff time to perform one hour of the identified services and in conjunction with and approval by WVU Finance.
7. Should multiple requests related to one data set be requested separately or as one request?
Requests related to a single data set should be entered together as one service request as part of one project.
8. Is there a cost for requesting a RedCap or TriNetX account?
No, there is currently no cost for account creation for RedCap or TriNetX.
9. How is the HIPAA-compliant High Performance Computer (HPC) different from the WVU Research Vault?
The HIPAA-compliant HPC is the only approved storage for CMS data at WVU and is managed by WVCTSI. The Research Vault is managed by WVU ITS and is available for low and medium risk data only. https://researchdata.wvu.edu/available-technology/storage
10. What type of service does data curation for federal compliance fall into? And do you support that?
Yes, we support data curation and that would be categorized as “Custom Data Sets and Registries” on the Service Menu.
Still have questions? Contact us!
WVCTSI's Access Hours are a perfect time to ask questions about this new process. Our Research Services Manager, Meg Hardman, will be happy to speak with you.
You may also e-mail Meg Hardman at mehaller@hsc.wvu.edu with process questions.
If you have feedback to share about this process, please complete this form: