Introduction

At the end of last year's session, Congress passed an Omnibus Appropriations Bill which includes a provision requiring the Office of Management and Budget to amend Circular A-110 to "ensure that all data produced under an award will be made available to the public through the procedures established under the Freedom of Information Act." Although well-meaning in its intent to promot public access to scientific data, it has raised concerns among researchers and their institutions about how it would be implemented. Questions arise regarding the costs of implementation, the confidentiality of human subjects research data, and its impact on intellectual property rights and university-industry relationships. To address these and other issues as well as the proposed rule issued by OMB, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Federal Focus, Inc. will convene a briefing on February 26, 1999. Representatives from OMB, the House Committee on Science Staff, National Institutes of Health, industry, and the research community will be present.