BRIDGE pilot study: a bilateral regulatory investigation of data governance and exchange

Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partner institutions have co-developed a practical framework for legally compliant and technically interoperable European Union (EU)–USA health data collaboration, as part of the Bilateral Regulatory Investigation of Data Governance and Exchange (BRIDGE) pilot study. The framework was published in the journal NPJ Digital Medicine.

The framework emphasizes early data protection assessments, secure transfer protocols, and iterative governance checks. The final consensus framework provides a stepwise guide, composed of 30 steps in three consecutive phases, to navigate regulatory and legal complexities and operationalize cross-border research. It defines the practical steps required for effective EU–USA health data sharing.

Ongoing input from researchers and stakeholders will help ensure that the framework remains adaptable and provides a clear, scalable foundation for cross-border health data exchange. The larger context is to enable responsible global-scale health data collaboration that accelerates research and improves care.

Hou HX, Bisson T, Leiss SM, Thierauf J, Stern AD, Strobelt H, et al.
BRIDGE pilot study: a bilateral regulatory investigation of data governance and exchange
NPJ Digit Med. Published online 26 March 2026;
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-02322-6

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