Jan. 2026 IAM Online - Making it Easier for Researchers: NIH's use of InCommon for Controlled-Access Data

Wednesday, January 21, 1:00 p.m. ET

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is enhancing its security posture for sensitive research data repositories by increasing assurance requirements for user access. Beyond the current requirement for multi-factor authentication (MFA), NIH will require stronger identity proofing to ensure that authenticated users are accurately and reliably identified. 

Good news: universities using InCommon Federation can satisfy these requirements by strengthening identity proofing practices in conjunction with MFA. Universities should begin upgrading their processes now. 

The January 2026 IAM Online shows how NIH and InCommon are partnering to help institutions prepare through outreach, guidance, and testing — ensuring researchers keep easy access to the biomedical data they need.

Attendees will receive information about applying for the Identity Proofing Accelerator, an 8-week cohort-based program for higher education institutions implementing identity proofing solutions, set to begin in mid-February. 

Speakers:

Ann West - Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships and Research

Ashrab Ahmed - Chief, Identity and Access Management Services, CIT

Sandeep Sathyaprasad - Team Lead  for NIH Login

Minhas Siddiqui - Architect, Identity and Access Management, CIT