General Account Questions

  1. I had access to the SEER data before April 16, 2024. How do I get the latest data?
  2. My email address changed. Do I need to submit a new request for data?
  3. Why can't I login to my SEER*Stat account?
  4. When do SEER*Stat accounts expire?
  5. Does each person who uses the data need to submit a data request?

Research Plus and NCCR Data Questions

  1. What are the requirements to access Research Plus and NCCR Data?
  2. What is a Signing Official and how do I identify mine?
  3. I had access to Research Plus Data and can no longer get access under the current policy. What happens to my access?
  4. Can I request the Research Plus Data for personal use?
  5. Is access to Research Plus and NCCR Data a prerequisite for access to other data?

eRA Commons Questions

  1. What is eRA Commons and how do I obtain an account?
  2. I don’t think my institution is registered with eRA Commons. Do they need to set this up before I can access this data?
  3. How do I use my eRA Commons account to request SEER data?
  4. How do I link my eRA Commons account to a Login.gov account?
  5. My Login.gov account didn't work; I got a Logged Out message when I tried to request the SEER data. What do I do?
  6. I need to change the email address on my eRA Commons account. What do I do?

Technical Help

  1. I get an HTTP Status Error after logging into the request system. What do I do?
  2. Are any countries blocked from accessing SEER data?
  3. Who do I contact for more help?

Refer to the SEER*Stat Frequently Asked Questions for information about using the software.

General Account Questions

1. I had access to the SEER data before April 16, 2024. How do I get the latest data?

If you submitted a request for data prior to April 16, 2024, your account is not valid to access the current data release. These accounts will be disabled 3 months after the release of the new data. To continue to use the SEER data, you need to submit a new request for the latest release which includes the 1975-2021 SEER Research Data (November 2023 Submission), as well as access to the two previous submissions. For detailed instructions, see How to Request Access to SEER Data.

If your email address is the same, when your request is approved, your current SEER*Stat account will be updated with access to the latest data.

If your email address has changed, you will get a new SEER*Stat account under the new email address. Please contact seerstat@imsweb.com with the information about both accounts and we can delete the old account so you will not be contacted using the old address.

If you had access to specialized data under a different email address, contact seerstat@imsweb.com to determine whether the specialized access can be maintained under your new account.  

2. My email address changed. Do I need to submit a new request for data?

Yes. If you change companies and your primary email address changes, or your company updates the format of their email addresses, you will need to submit a new request for the SEER data. It is not possible to update the email address associated with your account in SEER*Stat.

3. Why can't I login to my SEER*Stat account?

There are a couple of reasons why you cannot login to your SEER*Stat account:

  1. If this is a new account, you must set your initial password when you first login to SEER*Stat. Use the "Client-Server Set/Change Password" link in the Profile menu and the Access Code option to set it.
  2. If you updated your access to the latest SEER data release or went from Research to Research Plus access, you must set a new password. Use the "Client-Server Set/Change Password" link in the Profile menu and the Access Code option to set it.
  3. If you do not have access to the latest SEER data for 1975-2021 (November 2023 submission), your account may be expired. Refer to the password expiration FAQ for more information.

4. When do SEER*Stat accounts expire?

The new SEER Research Data are released on or around April 15 every year. The release includes three submissions of data: the current data and two previous releases.  For example, the current release includes the 1975-2021, 1975-2020, and 1975-2019 data.

When the new data is released, you will lose access to the oldest version of data (e.g., 1975-2018), but will still be able to log into SEER*Stat and analyze the two more recent submissions for up to 3 months. 

After 3 months, if you do not get access to the new data, your SEER*Stat account will be disabled.  If you get access after this time, your account will be enabled and you will maintain your previous access as well as access to the latest data.

After 6 months, if you still have not renewed your access, your account will be deleted.  If you gain access after 6 months, it will be treated as a new account.

5. Does each person who uses the data need to submit a data request?

Yes, each person who will access the SEER Research and NCCR Data must submit a separate request for the data. This ensures each data user acknowledges the agreements and limitations and is authorized to access the data.

SEER*Stat accounts are assigned to individual users and may not be shared with others, including within research teams.

Research Plus and NCCR Data Questions

6. What are the requirements to access Research Plus and NCCR Data?

To access SEER Research Plus and NCCR Data, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. Authenticate through one of the approved login methods:
    • an eRA Commons account that is associated with an institutional email address (.edu, .gov, .org, or work email address), or
    • an HHS account. 
  2. Provide contact information for your Signing Official who must be affiliated with your institution/university/company. The Requester and Signing Official should not be the same individual. If there is no other person designated as Signing Official in your organization, please contact us.
  3. Acknowledge the terms and limitations of the data.

Note: for requests based on eRA Commons accounts, the email address used must be affiliated with your institute/university/company. Requests using open email accounts like gmail, icloud, 163.com etc. will be rejected.

If you meet these criteria, follow the instructions on How to Request Access to SEER Data to apply for access. Once access is granted, the data is made available through the SEER*Stat software.

7. What is a Signing Official and how do I identify mine?

The Signing Official is the person who has the legal authority for the institution's assurance of the terms of the SEER Research Data Use Agreement. For example, your institute's Provost or Director of Research Affairs could serve as a Signing Official.

  • For eRA Commons account holders, refer to the FAQ about eRA Commons for help.
  • For HHS account holders, this is your division director.

Please note:

  • The Signing Official’s name and email address are required, but they will not be contacted nor required to sign off on the SEER data request.
  • For eRA Commons and HHS account holders, the email address for the Signing Official used on the request form must be affiliated with your institute/university/company.
    • Requests using open email accounts like gmail, icloud, 163.com etc., will be rejected and asked to correct the email addresses.
  • The Requester and Signing Official should not be the same individual. If there is no other person designated as Signing Official in your organization, please contact us.

8. I had access to Research Plus Data and can no longer get access under the current policy. What happens to my access?

If you had access to the Research Plus Data under the old policy (i.e., for personal use), you can maintain access to some Research Plus Data for another year if you keep your account active (refer to the FAQ for account expiration). You cannot get access to the latest Research Plus Data unless you meet the requirements of the current policy.

The latest release includes three submissions of data: 1975-2021, 1975-2020, and 1975-2019 data. If you had access to 1975-2019 Research Plus Data and you keep your account active by requesting the latest SEER Research Data, you will get access to the 1975-2020 and 1975-2021 Research Data but maintain access to the 1975-2019 Research Plus Data.

Next April, when the new data is released, you will not have access to any Research Plus Data unless you can obtain it under the current policy.

If at any point, you let your account expire, you will not be able to regain access to Research Plus Data without complying with the new access policy.

9. Can I request the Research Plus Data for personal use?

No.  Starting with the April 2023 release of the SEER data, only users who have an eRA Commons account associated with an institutional email address or users with HHS accounts may request access to the SEER Research Plus Data (refer to FAQ #2 for the requirements). Users who cannot obtain an eRA Commons account can only get access to the Research Data.

10. Is access to Research Plus and NCCR Data a prerequisite for accessing other databases?

Yes, to request access to the SEER Specialized Databases, NAACCR’s CiNA Research Dataset, the NPCR and SEER U.S. Cancer Statistics Public-Use Data, or access to the NCCR Data Platform, you must first obtain access to the latest SEER Research Plus Data. This ensures you complete the user authentication process, agree to the SEER data agreements and limitations, and have an active SEER*Stat account.

Refer to requirements for access to Research Plus Data for more information.

After you receive confirmation that you have access to the current SEER Research Plus data, follow the instructions on the following websites for the additional data:

Though limited National Childhood Cancer Registry (NCCR) data are available through SEER*Stat with access to the SEER Research Plus Data, access to NCCR data at the individual level and to other Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) resources will be available through the NCCR Data Platform in 2024. Learn more about the NCCR Data Platform on the NCCR Data Products website.

eRA Commons Questions

11. What is eRA Commons and how do I obtain an account?

eRA Commons is an online system that authenticates organizational users using the information registered in the  NIH eRA Commons for controlled and managed data access. The eRA Commons account is not limited to U.S. researchers. Many foreign organizations have already registered with eRA.

If you have a new eRA Commons account or made changes to an existing account, allow 2 days for the new information to be reflected before attempting to make a request in the SEER Data Request System.

Using Login.gov credentials for eRA Commons accounts

Beginning September 15, 2021, eRA Commons transitioned to the use of Login.gov credentials, instead of eRA Commons username and password, to log in. For more information, see the Linking Login.gov and eRA Commons accounts FAQ. If you just linked your Login.gov and eRA Commons accounts, allow 2 days for the changes to propagate to the SEER Data Request System.

How do I obtain an eRA commons account?

First check with your institution to see if your institution is registered with eRA Commons. If it is, the eRA Commons account administrator of your institution should be able to help you create your eRA account.

If your institution has never setup an eRA Commons account, please see FAQ #4 for the information related to institutional eRA account setup.

You will need to contact the eRA Commons Signing Official (SO) or Account Administrator (AA) at your institute/organization to establish a new account and/or add roles or affiliations to an existing account.

When your account is created, you will receive an email to go to eRA Commons to verify your profile information.

The eRA system is not operated by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. To get a new eRA Commons account or make any changes to an existing eRA Commons account, such as resetting the password or changing the email address, please visit the eRA website or directly contact the eRA Service Desk.

Who can apply for an eRA Commons account?

There are several roles available in eRA Commons. Here are some examples of common uses:

  • A Principal Investigator (PI) is an individual who directs a research project or program supported by the NIH or NCI. The role of the PI within the eRA Commons portal is to complete the grant administration or data access process or to delegate this responsibility to another individual. A PI may only access information pertaining to the grant(s) or data access request on which he/she is the designated PI.
  • An Undergraduate Student is an individual who is in an undergraduate program and wants to access cancer registry data for work related to their classes or research studies.
  • A Graduate Student is an individual who is in a graduate program and wants to access cancer registry data for work related to their classes or research studies.

Detailed instructions for creating and affiliating accounts can be found in the Accounts Module Online Help System

What if I cannot determine the Signing Official for my institute?

If you cannot locate the appropriate person at your institution, contact the eRA Service Desk:

  • Submit a web ticket at https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help
  • Toll-free: 1-866-504-9552
  • Phone: 301-402-7469
  • Hours: Mon-Fri, 7a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time (Except for Federal holidays)

12. I don’t think my institution is registered with eRA Commons. Do they need to set this up before I can access this data?

Yes, your institution or organization will need to register with NIH eRA Commons before you can obtain an eRA Commons account required to access the SEER Research Plus Data. Institutions are usually registered by someone in the business office, since it requires financial information (such as the DUNS number). Once registration is complete, the eRA Commons account administrator of the institution should be able to assist individuals to setup their own eRA Commons account.

Note that each institutional user who wants access to the SEER data must submit their own request using their individual eRA account.

13. How do I use my eRA Commons account to request SEER data?

Once you have an active eRA Commons account linked to a Login.gov account to authenticate with eRA Commons, you can request access to the SEER Research Plus Data.

  1. Go to the SEER Data Request System.
  2. Use the Research Plus Login option.
  3. On the NIH Sign in page, scroll down to the Login.gov button at the bottom of the page.

    Note that Smart Card and Authenticator App options are for HHS and NIH users, not eRA Commons accounts.
  4. Log in with your Login.gov username and password associated with your eRA Commons account.

Troubleshooting

  • If you get a "Logged Out" message, be sure your eRA Commons account is linked to a Login.gov account. Refer to the Logged Out FAQ for more information.
  • You cannot request the SEER Research Data through the eRA Commons website directly. You will use your eRA Commons login to authenticate with the SEER Data Request System through the Research Plus Login option.
  • Each individual is required to have their own eRA Commons account to request the data. Refer to the eRA Account FAQ for more details.

14. How do I link my eRA Commons account to a Login.gov account?

To link your eRA Commons account to a Login.gov account, you must log into the eRA Common website using the Login.gov option.

Follow these steps to initially link accounts and to confirm they are still linked. If you only use the eRA Commons account periodically to request SEER data, you may need to relink the accounts each year.

  1. Go to the eRA Commons website: https://public.era.nih.gov/commons/
  2. Login with Login.gov option, not the eRA Credentials.
    • If you already have a Login.gov account, enter your email address and password, and then complete the 2-factor authentication.
    • If you do not have a Login.gov account, follow the options to “Create an account”.
    eRA Commons page with the Login.gov Login option cirecled for emphasis, with the eRA Commons credentials option crossed out
  3. After logging in:
    • If you are directed to your eRA profile page immediately, your accounts are linked.
    • If you see the following screen that prompts for your eRA Credentials, the accounts are not yet linked. Continue to Step 4.
      Electronic Research Administration page reading Associate your eRA Account. Authentication Source: LOGIN.GOV. LOGIN.GOV Primary Email Address. Below are fields prompting for the eRA User ID and eRA User Password and a Continue button.
  4. Enter your original eRA User ID and Password.
  5. Click the Continue button. This step will link your accounts.
  6. Wait up to 2 days for the information to propagate to the SEER Data Request System before trying to request the data.

Go to How do I use my eRA Commons account to request SEER data? for next steps.

15. My Login.gov account didn't work; I got a Logged Out message when I tried to request the SEER data. What do I do?

Login.gov accounts alone are not sufficient for requesting SEER Research Plus Data. Users must have an active eRA Commons account linked to their Login.gov account.

If you login with your Login.gov credentials and are directed to the NIH Logout page, refer to the table below for help.

NIH Logout page displaying the message Logged out, You have logged out of NIH Login
Why do I get a logout screen: What do I do:
  1. Your eRA Commons account is not linked to your Login.gov account. This is the most common reason for the error.
  • Follow the steps in the FAQ for how to link accounts.
  • Try this even if you think the accounts were linked previously. The link needs to be reactivated year-to-year or may not have been completed fully the first time.
  1. You just linked your Login.gov and eRA Commons accounts.
  • Please allow up to 2 days for the changes to propagate to the SEER Data Request System.
  1. Your eRA Commons account is not active.
  1. Your account is locked in the SEER Data Request System.
  • If you tried the other 3 options and still get the Logged out message, please contact seerstat@imsweb.com. Your account may be locked and requires technical support to unlock it.

16. I need to change the email address on my eRA Commons account. What do I do?

If you need to reapply for the SEER Research Plus Data using a different email address, you must first change the address on your eRA Commons account. To do so:

  1. Log into the eRA Commons website.
  2. Go to you Personal Profile.
  3. Edit the email address under Contact Information in the Name and ID section of your profile summary.
  4. Wait 2 days for the information to propagate to SEER.
  5. Log into the SEER Data Request System to reapply for the data. Your updated email address should be automatically entered into the registration form.

Technical Questions

17. I get an HTTP Status Error after logging into the request system. What do I do?

If after logging into the SEER Data Request System with your Login.gov account you go to a page with an HTTP Status 500 – Internal Server Error (or similar error), please try the following:

  1. If you logged into the eRA Commons website first, log out and go back to the main SEER Request page and follow the steps again.
  2. Refresh the page.
  3. Try another web browser, if available.
Page displaying the message HTTP Status 500 -- Internal Server Error. Type: Status Report. Message: Interal Error occurred while trying to process the request. Transaction ID failed. Description: The server encountered an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling the request.

If you cannot get past this error page, please contact seerstat@imsweb.com for help.

18. Are any countries blocked from accessing SEER data?

In order to comply with U.S. trade controls, access to SEER data is blocked from U.S. embargoed countries. For more information, refer to the Sanctioned Destinations Guidance.

19. Who do I contact for more help?

There are several options to contact the SEER program for questions about the data and the request process. Refer to the SEER Data Contacts page for more information.