HABITAT: Evolution of a Cloud-Based, Mesh-Enabled Research Data Ecosystem at an Academic Medical Center
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Academic medical centers face growing demand for clinical data access that traditional informatics infrastructure cannot support at scale. We describe HABITAT, a governed, tiered research data ecosystem at the University of Missouri integrating internal and external sources, including unstructured clinical data, into a layered architecture supporting PCORnet and OMOP common data models. A three-tier model provides self-service feasibility tools, secure cloud analytics, and curated honest broker services under a Five Safes governance framework. From mid-2022 through February 2026, HABITAT received 1,150 requests with 689 fulfilled and supported 29 externally funded projects. Median fulfillment for internal data requests improved from 30 to 20 days, and an early survey captured 54 scholarly outputs, including peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals. HABITAT supported coursework to multi-site research without proportional staff increases, while cost recovery and data standardization barriers highlight challenges institutions face as AI-driven data demand grows.
