Our Mission: Unlocking the Power of Data — Together

The Mission Behind Data4Science

At Data4Science, we believe knowledge is power — and that power should belong to everyone, not just big tech companies. Our mission is simple but ambitious: to build one of the world’s largest collections of information to help people and scientists understand more about health, behavior, and how our environment shapes both.

Every one of us carries clues in our data — in how we move, how we rest, how we connect with others, and even in the air and neighborhoods we live in. These patterns tell stories about health, wellbeing, and society. By bringing these stories together, we can unlock discoveries that help us all live healthier, better lives.

Your biology, your family background, and your environment all influence your wellbeing. That’s why we ask for information about both you and the world around you — so researchers can study how these things connect and, in time, share those insights back with you.

Most large-scale data projects like this are run by commercial companies with deep pockets. We want to change that. By choosing to donate your data, you help make research more open and fair. You make it possible for independent scientists — not just corporations — to use data for discoveries that serve the public good.

How and Why You Can Donate Your Personal Data

You might be surprised to learn that you already have powerful rights over your own data. Thanks to modern privacy laws — like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 in the United Kingdom — you can now access, download, and share your personal information.

These laws, which inspired similar protections in countries like the United States and Canada, are built on a simple idea: your data belongs to you.

Here’s what that means in practice:

• You have the right to access your data. Under Article 15 of the GDPR, you can ask any company (including us) for a copy of your personal data.

• You have the right to data portability. Under Article 20, you can ask for your data in a form you can download or share elsewhere — including donating it to Data4Science.

• You have the right to deletion. Under Article 17 — often called the “right to be forgotten” — you can ask for your data to be deleted if you no longer want it used.

If you’re in the United States, you may have similar protections under laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) or the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA). No matter where you live, we apply the same strong privacy standards for everyone who joins.

We use strict technical and organisational safeguards to protect your data — encryption, access controls, and secure servers — and we always comply with the privacy laws of your region.

When you decide to share your data, you’re helping to build something bigger: a global research resource that supports discoveries for the public good.

How Is Data4Science Funded?

We started life inside the University of Oxford, where the first phase of Data4Science was funded by the European Research Council (ERC) through an Advanced Grant and a Proof of Concept Grant awarded to our founder, Professor Melinda Mills. We also received support from The Leverhulme Trust, which funds the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, founded and directed by Professor Mills.

As the project has grown, we’ve evolved from a university research initiative into a socially responsible business. This lets us cover our running costs and continue our research — not by selling your data, but by charging approved researchers a small access fee to use it for legitimate, ethical scientific studies.

This model is used by other major data resources, such as the UK Biobank, and it keeps us independent, secure, and sustainable for the long term.

We may receive new funding or investment in the future, and when we do, we’ll be completely open about it. Every funder and partner will be listed on our website, because transparency is one of our core values.

No matter where the funding comes from, our mission remains the same: to use data responsibly, protect your privacy, and support science that benefits everyone.

Ethics at the Heart of Everything We Do

Before any research involving people can begin, it must pass through independent ethical review — a process that ensures the work is safe, fair, and respectful.

While at the University of Oxford, Data4Science was reviewed and approved by the University of Oxford Research Ethics Committee and the European Research Council Ethics Panel. These reviews included external experts who helped ensure that our work met the highest ethical and scientific standards.

That commitment continues today. Data4Science still operates with regular ethics reviews and an independent Ethics Committee built into our governance structure. Their job is to make sure that:

• Your rights and privacy are protected under UK and EU GDPR,

• Your data is handled safely and used only for responsible research, and

• Every study using our data truly serves the public interest.

In short, ethics aren’t just a box we tick — they’re part of our DNA.

Join the Future of Open Science

Data4Science is more than a research project. It’s a movement for fairer, more open, and more human science — where people like you help shape discoveries that benefit everyone.

By donating your data, you’re not just helping researchers; you’re helping to create a world where knowledge is shared, not hoarded. A world where science serves the public, not just the marketplace.

Ready to be part of it? Learn more or get in touch at info@data4science.com

Together, we can turn data into discoveries — and discoveries into change.

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