The benefits and challenges of opening toxicology control data

Open data is data that anyone can access, use and share. There is growing evidence that open data can improve the quality of scientific research, enabling researchers to maximise the value gained from collected data. To reduce unnecessary animal studies, EU and US legislation requires data sharing between organisations seeking to manufacture or import the same substances. But sharing is typically conducted via a compensation scheme that restricts other potential uses. This article discusses the benefits and challenges of a more open and structured approach towards sharing historical control data. This may then serve as a template for the eventual sharing of all toxicology data.