Common data models (CDM) have enabled the simultaneous analysis of disparate and large data sources. A literature review identified three relevant CDMs: The Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) was the most cited; next the Sentinel; and then the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). We tested these three CDMs with fifteen pre-defined criteria for a diabetes cohort study use case, assessing the benefit (good diabetes control), risk (hypoglycaemia) and cost effectiveness of recently licenced medications. We found all three CDMs have a useful role in planning collaborative research and enhance analysis of data cross jurisdiction. However, the number of pre-defined criteria achieved by these three CDMs varied. OMOP met 14/15, Sentinel 13/15, and PCORI 10/15. None met the privacy level we specified, and most of the other gaps were clinical and cost outcome related data.