Expanding the power of a reading and language development data repository: ldbase

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development awarded the University of Waterloo $563,483 on August 24, 2026, under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865) to expand LDBASE, a domain-specific data repository for reading and language development research.

The project addresses four specific aims: expanding LDBASE to incorporate state-of-the-science data repository techniques to increase interoperability; building a community trained and motivated for data sharing; increasing user adoption and community engagement; and demonstrating the power of data reuse through integrated analyses that answer important research questions in reading and language development. The work focuses on innovating repository infrastructure, developing community-facing features and trainings, and facilitating interconnectivity with other data repositories to support researchers addressing language-related disabilities across education, psychology, communication science, and related fields.

Performance runs through June 30, 2031, at the University of Waterloo's Office of Research in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The University of Waterloo, a registered not-for-profit research institution, serves as the recipient organization.

Abstract

The data created by language and reading researchers is powerful. Seven years ago, we noted that the field of reading and language development research was ideally suited for the creation of a domain specific data repository, and subsequently built one, ldbase. We saw that the broad field of reading and language development research, which intersects the fields of education, psychology, and communication science and disorders, among others, was unique in its need, and positionality, for such a domain specific data repository. First, many of the projects are grant funded, which means there is top-down pressure from granting agencies to share data. Second, the community is unique in being well poised to capitalize on the power of shared data. A domain specific repository allows for a one-stop shop for facilitating data sharing and reuse, facilitating the research of the field to solve the pressing problems faced by individuals with language related disabilities. Based on total number of datasets shared, datasets downloaded, general community engagement, publications, white papers, and funded grants, ldbase has been a driver of scientific innovation in the field. With this proposal, we prioritize work in innovating in the data repository field to increase our support of data sharing, data reuse, and interconnectivity with other data repositories, as well as features and trainings focusing on the needs of the reading and language development field, through four new specific aims. Specific aim 1 expand ldbase to include state-of-the-science data repository techniques to increase interoperability. Specific aim 2. Build a community enthusiastic about and trained for data sharing. Specific aim 3. Increase users and community engagement. Specific aim 4. Demonstrate the power of data reuse by answering important research questions through integrated analyses and creating combined datasets for community use. In a time of increased focus on data sharing due to top-down demands from funders, investigators in the field of reading and language development need an easy-to-use data repository to store their data, a GAP which ldbase fills. In addition, the power of secondary data reuse, access to powerful tools like application programming interface (API) and data integration, educational opportunities, and standardization of field norms, means ldbase will become a critical infrastructure for reading and language development research.