From Planning Stage To FAIR Data: A Practical Metadatasheet For Biomedical Scientists

Abstract

Datasets consist of measurement data and metadata. Metadata provides context, essential for understanding and (re-)using data. Various metadata standards exist for different methods, systems and contexts. However, relevant information resides at differing stages across the data-lifecycle. Often, this information is standardized only at publication stage, which can lead to data loss, workload increase and missed collaboration opportunities. In this study, we developed Metadatasheet, a metadata standard based on interviews with members of two biomedical consortia and systematic screening of data repositories. The standard aligns with the data-lifecycle allowing synchronous metadata recording within Microsoft Excel, which is a widespread data recording software. Additionally, we provide an implementation that offers user-friendly features like automation, dynamic adaption, metadata integrity checks, and export options for various established metadata standards. The creation and implementation of the proposed metadata standard are thoroughly documented to allow re-purposing. The proposed metadata standard, named Metadatasheet, simplifies recording and structuring of metadata for biomedical scientists, promoting practicality and convenience in data management. The framework can accelerate scientific progress by enhancing collaboration and knowledge transfer throughout the intermediate steps of data creation.