ABSTRACT
Data sharing is a key component of medical physics clinical practice and scientific research. In this chapter, we discuss the various types of data typically used in medical physics applications, including clinical, imaging, molecular markers, and treatment data. We also delve into the challenges and requirements of data sharing, highlighting the ethical, political, legal, and technical obstacles. We present the main approaches for facilitating data sharing, such as centralized databases and federated learning, highlighting their pros and cons. We provide examples of successful international data-sharing initiatives in the field. We conclude with a summary and recommendations for effective data sharing in medical physics.
