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DISC: Our Work

The Data Infrastructure Support Center (DISC) provides support, resources, and coordination of all data-related needs for the Innovation and Acceleration Projects. DISC leads meet regularly with the project teams to assist them in building capacity for using data to select, launch, and monitor the impact of evidence-based services to address opioid use disorders and pain. DISC also provides seed funding to the projects to respond to unforeseen or newly emerging, time-sensitive challenges and opportunities related to data acquisition and use.

More specifically, the DISC has developed:

  • DMPTool: DMPTool is an optional-source online application that helps researchers create Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plans that comply with NIH and HEAL data sharing policies.
  • DISC Rapid DIMS (Data Infrastructure Modernization Support): The DISC Rapid DIMS provides funding for activities that address gaps in knowledge or other barriers to using data for action. The Rapid DIMS supports data modernization at the interface of chronic pain and opioid use disorder to advance research in important areas of focus: data infrastructure, data acquisition, data visualization, data collaborations, or related data activities. Summaries of the Rapid DIM awards can be found here:
  • Medicare and Medicaid Claims Documentation (VRDC Tool). A secure virtual research environment, the CCW Virtual Research Data Center (VRDC) provides researchers with timely, efficient, cost-effective access to CMS Medicare and Medicaid data. Within the VRDC, users can:
    • Access approved data files and perform data manipulation within a secure CMS environment
    • Upload external data to their workspace and analyze it alongside approved CMS datasets
    • Download aggregated reports and results to their personal workstation—following privacy rules and output review processes

Researchers must meet specific requirements, including U.S. residency, connection from a U.S.-registered IP address, and compatible computing setup. The VRDC also ensures compliance with all CMS privacy and security standards.