👉 Locked research refers to data, findings, or methodologies that are restricted from being freely accessed or shared by the public or other researchers due to ethical, legal, or proprietary reasons. This restriction is often implemented to protect sensitive information, such as patient health records in medical studies, confidential business strategies, or national security data. Researchers who have access to locked research typically must adhere to strict protocols and may need approval from institutional review boards or other oversight bodies before disseminating their work. While this ensures the integrity and confidentiality of the research, it can also limit the broader scientific community's ability to build upon existing knowledge, potentially slowing down advancements in the field.