Data Storage
The Faculty of Medicine is unique within the institution in that it works with datasets that are sometimes extremely large and may contain sensitive data. The challenges related to data storage, and particularly the storage of active data during ongoing research, are numerous, both in terms of data volume and transfer, as well as data security.
The essential questions Where should research data be stored? and How long should research data be retained? are addressed below.
A wide range of storage solutions is available to researchers within the Faculty for each major stage of research projects, all of which meet the expected security standards.
The question of data retention duration is also important, particularly considering the multiple recommendations and legal requirements governing the various types of data handled within the Faculty.
In addition, the Storage Glossary @FacMed helps clarify terminology and issues related to the storage of research data.
Where Should Research Data Be Stored?
Before selecting appropriate storage solutions, it is essential to analyze the data lifecycle within the laboratory or platform. To support this process, it is recommended to use the Research Data Flow Diagram developed and implemented by the Faculty of Medicine.
The University provides numerous solutions for the storage of research data. An overview of these solutions is available in the DiSTIC digital services catalogue @UNIGE.
A summary of storage solutions including storage locations, use cases, and pricing indications is also available on the DiSTIC intranet @UNIGE. This information is also presented on the corresponding ResearchData @UNIGE webpage.
The Storage Solutions @FacMed visual below lists the tools and infrastructures recommended by the Faculty of Medicine according to the different stages of the research data lifecycle:
Additional information on these tools can be found on their dedicated pages: High-Performance Computing (HPC), SmartLab-eLabNext, Hedera, Academic NAS, GitLab, Amazon S3, Yareta, Magnetic Tape Solution, Archive ouverte.
How Long Should Research Data Be Retained?
The duration of data retention depends on various recommendations and regulations. Typical retention periods may vary depending on research activities, topics, and disciplines. General obligations and recommendations (@UNIGE), as well as those specific to the Faculty (@FacMed), are listed below. It is important to note that retention periods indicated by law represent minimum durations.
General Recommendations (@UNIGE)
- UNIGE recommends that research data be retained for at least 5 years after the end of the research (memento 0003, point 2.6).
- The SNSF (FAQ, point o) and other funding bodies (e.g., Horizon Europe), as well as scientific publishers, generally recommend that data and documentation be retained for at least 10 years after the end of the project.
- The Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and the cantonal "Loi sur l’information du public, l’accès aux documents et la protection des données personnelles" (LIPAD) indicate that personal data must be stored not longer than necessary for the purposes pursued. However, the Ordinance on Data Protection (DPO, article 4) specifies that logging records must be retained for at least 1 year.
Recommendations for the Disciplines of the Faculty of Medicine (@FacMed)
Patient medical records: the Swiss Medical Association (FMH) recommends retaining medical data for at least 20 years after the end of treatment (FMH Code of Ethics, article 12). In Geneva, the cantonal "Loi sur la santé" (LS, article 57) recommends retaining medical data for at least 10 years after the patient’s last consultation, up to a maximum of 20 years. The cantonal "Loi sur les archives publiques" (LArch) requires assessing the archival value before considering data destruction.
Genetic data: the Federal Act on Human Genetic Testing (HGTA, article 11) states that genetic samples and data may be stored for only 2 years, unless extended consent is provided. This restriction no longer applies once the data are anonymized. The "Ordonnance sur l’analyse génétique humaine" (OAGH, article 25) specifies that analysis reports must be retained by laboratories for 5 years.
Biobanks: the retention period of samples and data depends on the biobank’s governance. The duration must be specified in the consent form. More information is available on the websites of swissethics and CUREG2.0.
Research involving human beings:
- Clinical and human research: the Federal Act on Research involving Human Beings (HRA, article 43) and the Ordinance on Human Research (HRO, article 23a) recommend retaining data for at least 10 years after the end of the study.
- Clinical trials: the Ordinance on Clinical Trials with the exception of Clinical Trials of Medical Devices (ClinO, article 45) states that data related to a clinical trial (including documents necessary for identification and medical follow-up) must be retained for at least 20 years from the end of the trial. However, for clinical trials involving standardized transplants or trials involving blood or blood products, the Federal Act on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (TPA, article 40) requires data retention for 30 years.
- Clinical trials of medical devices: the Medical Devices Ordinance (MedDO, article 48) states that data must be retained for at least 10 years, or 15 years for implantable devices.
Research involving animals:
- Experiments involving animals: the Federal Animal Welfare Act (AniWA), and the "Ordonnance sur la protection des animaux" (OPAn, article 144) state that experiment records must be retained for 3 years after the expiration of the authorisation.
Storage Working Group
Valérie Barbié, Eric Beuchotte, Laurent Bouysset, Hugues Cazeaux, Sébastien Courvoisier, Sami El-Boustani, Arnaud Didierlaurent, Alexis Hervais-Adelman, Daniel Huber, Christophe Lamy
Contact person:
Latest update: 2026-01-27