Data Resources

At Vanderbilt University Medical Center, researchers have access to a powerful ecosystem of data resources designed to drive discovery and improve human health. From rich electronic health record (EHR) data to genomics, imaging, and biospecimens, our tools support diverse research across the translational spectrum. Whether you’re designing a clinical trial, exploring patient outcomes, or conducting molecular studies, our integrated platforms and expert teams help turn data into insight.

Explore our resources below:

VUMC Electronic Health Record Data

VICTR’s EHR data resources provide access to rich, longitudinal clinical data to support a wide range of research use cases—from exploratory cohort discovery to custom data extraction. Whether working with identified or de-identified records, researchers can leverage decades of patient data for impactful insights.

The Research Derivative (RD) is Vanderbilt’s fully identified and robust repository of clinical data drawn from the electronic medical record (Epic, StarPanel, the Enterprise Data Warehouse, HEO, and other sources).

Learn more about the Research Derivative (RD) here.

The Synthetic Derivative (SD) is a rich, multi-source repository of data collected from VUMC’s clinical records and de-identified for use in research.

Learn more about the Synthetic Derivative (SD) here.

Genomics

VICTR’s genomic resources link DNA and omics data to comprehensive clinical records, enabling cutting-edge research in precision medicine, disease susceptibility, and therapeutic response. With one of the largest biobanks of its kind, VUMC is a leader in EHR-linked genomic discovery.

BioVU is Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) de-identified biorepository for banked DNA samples, prospective plasma collection, and catalogs of omics data, enabling research on genetic variation, biomarkers, disease susceptibility, and drug responses.

Learn more about BioVU here.

The Alliance for Genomic Discovery (AGD) provides whole genome sequencing data from 250,000 BioVU samples, linked to de-identified clinical data.

Learn more about Alliance for Genomic Discovery (AGD) here.

Imaging

VICTR’s imaging repository offers access to a large archive of clinical imaging studies, with support from experienced DICOM specialists. Imaging data can be linked to clinical records, making it a powerful resource for studies that combine radiologic and phenotypic data.

ImageVU consists of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), along with image metadata including study description, exam codes, and image acquisition date and time that can be linked to identified or de-identified clinical data for research.

Learn more about ImageVU here.

Biorepositories

VICTR’s biorepositories house diverse biospecimens—from microbial isolates to archival tissues—paired with detailed clinical data. They support mechanistic, diagnostic, and translational studies by enabling researchers to connect biospecimens with patient-level insights.

TissueVU is a biorepository that uses archived tissue specimens accessible through TPSR to provide queryable user interface and link to the Research Derivative allowing investigators to pair longitudinal clinical data with on the shelf tissue specimens.

Learn more about TissueVU here.

MicroVU is the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s research biorepository of clinical microbial isolates collected during routine care and paired patient clinical data enabling research on host-microbe relationships.

Learn more about MicroVU here.

Clinical Trial Feasibility

Tools like TriNetX help researchers evaluate protocol feasibility and identify potential cohorts using real-world data. These platforms accelerate trial design by offering self-service access to timely, de-identified clinical information across local and national networks.

TriNetX is a research platform providing secure, on-demand access to a vast network of de-identified EHR data for cohort discovery and real-world evidence generation.

Learn more about TriNetx here.

Network Data Sources

VUMC participates in national research networks that provide harmonized datasets for large-scale population health and comparative effectiveness studies. These sources offer access to EHR, genomic, and survey data from millions of diverse participants across the country.

The All of Us Research Program’s repository is a one-of-a-kind dataset stored on the Researcher Workbench, a secure, cloud-based platform, where registered researchers can access data from surveys, genomic analyses, electronic health records, physical measurements, and wearables to study the full range of factors that influence health and disease.

Learn more about the All of Us program here.

VUMC maintains a limited dataset containing clinical data to support research as a part of the Science, Technology and Research partnership (STAR), Clinical Research Network (CRN), funded by Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), which is part of the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, PCORnet®.

Learn more about PCORnet here.

The National Clinical Cohort Collaborative (N3C) COVID Enclave is a nationwide repository of EHR-derived data focused on COVID-19 research, systematically collecting information from multiple health institutions.

Learn more about N3C here.