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Affecting All Users: Researcher Auth Service (RAS) Login

March 29, 2022

About Researcher Auth Service (RAS)

Researcher Auth Service (RAS) is a cloud-based authentication and authorization service that facilitates access to NIH’s open and controlled data assets and repositories in a consistent, secure, and user-friendly manner.

To reduce the burden on researchers’ access to NIH data while increasing the security of controlled data access, the NIH Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS) and the Center for Information Technology (CIT) are collaborating on the Researcher Auth Service (RAS) initiative. RAS is housed within the CIT’s NIH Auth Services program (formerly known as NIH Login) and is supported by data integrations and collaborations with the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and NIH’s Electronic Research Administration (eRA). The NIMH Data Archive (NDA) is one of the first in NIH to integrate with RAS!

If you have any questions regarding RAS, please contact the NIH IT Service Desk at 301-496-HELP (301-496-4357) or 866-319-4357 (toll-free) to create a ServiceNow ticket.

Does this affect me? | I have one of the three RAS identities | I don't have a RAS Identity | Accessing NDA Tools

Does this affect me?

All NDA Users are required to sign in with one of three NIH Research Auth Service (RAS) identities to access their NDA account:

  • eRA Commons
  • Smart Card/CAC/PIV
  • Login.gov

Your previous NDA credentials will no longer be valid to access your NDA account. Please continue for instructions on how to login!

Note: To log into NDA Tools, please use your NDA Credentials. NDA Tools is not yet integrated with the Research Authentication Service (RAS).

I have one of the RAS Identities. How do I log in?

If you have an existing RAS Identity, log into NDA:

  1. Click "My Account"
  2. Click "Sign in with RAS"
  3. Sign in using your RAS Credentials.
  4. Link your existing NDA account and RAS identity or create a new NDA account if you don't already have one.

Link your NDA account and RAS identity:

  1. After signing in using your RAS credentials, click "Link Existing NDA Account"
  2. Enter the email address of your existing NDA account and click "Continue"
  3. NDA will send a verification email. Follow the instructions provided in the email to link your NDA account and your RAS identity.

Create a new NDA account if you do not already have one:

  1. After signing in using your RAS credentials, you'll be prompted to create an NDA account.
  2. Enter the required information and click "Create NDA Account"
  3. Your NDA account and RAS identity will be linked automatically.

I don't have a RAS Identity. What do I do?

First, create a Login.gov account if you do not have an existing RAS identity.

  • You need an email address and a two-factor authentication (2FA) method to create a Login.gov account.
    • The Authenticator app is the recommended 2FA method.
  • NDA users are required to sign in using a RAS Identity.
  • NDA accounts cannot be created without logging in with a RAS identity first.

Once you create a Login.gov account, follow the I have one of the three RAS identities steps above to log into NDA with your new Login.gov credentials! If you have questions about creating a Login.gov account, please review the step-by-step instructions or contact Login.gov support.

Accessing NDA Tools

Logging in with your RAS identity does NOT apply to logging into NDA Tools.

Use your NDA credentials to log into NDA Tools.

  • The username listed in your NDA Profile is the username used to log into NDA Tools.
  • To set a password to log into NDA Tools, click "Reset Password" in your NDA Profile.