The Indiana Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) is now open to researchers on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. Through the Indiana FSRDC, researchers now have access to restricted data from participating federal statistical agencies, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
Due to concerns about privacy and confidentiality, federal agencies limit the data they make publicly available, such as by removing geographic identifiers like county or zip code or making alterations to the data before public release. Through the FSRDC system, with approved projects, researchers can access more detailed, micro-level data while protecting confidentiality. There are currently 37 Federal Statistical Research Data Centers in the United States, operated in partnership between the U.S. Census Bureau and host research organizations.
Interested researchers have several upcoming opportunities to learn about the data available through the Indiana FSRDC and the process of applying for access. A virtual panel of current Indiana FSRDC researchers will share insights on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 2pm. The Indiana FSRDC will also host a grand opening event on Friday, November 7. Interested researchers can also sign up to receive email updates, and read about internal funding available through the Social Science Research Commons to support FSRDC research.
The Indiana FSRDC is led by Co-Executive Directors Kosali Simon, who is Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences at IU Bloomington and Class of 1948 Herman B. Wells Endowed Professor in the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and Emily Meanwell, who is Executive Director of the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology. Carlos Lopes serves as the Indiana FSRDC's Administrator. Indiana University is a member of the Kentucky Research Data Center consortium, along with the University of Kentucky and the Ohio State University.