Initiative to Lay Groundwork for Global Neuroscience and Genomic Data Network

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) and the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) recently launched the GA4GH & INCF Neuroscience Community to unite collaborators from around the world to develop standards and systems needed for connecting global neuroscience and genomic data.

The effort ultimately aims to improve life for people with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson disease, addiction, depression, epilepsy, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, through data visiting. According to the organizations, a global federated network would enable scientists to responsibly study data stored in different locations at the same time.

“For nearly 2 decades, INCF has developed standards and best practices to make neuroscience data FAIR: findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable,” said Mathew Abrams, director of science and training for INCF. “Now we are eager to work with partners from genomics, like GA4GH, to ensure that our standards development efforts progress together and lead to the best possible science.”

Current Neuroscience Community members include the Brain Research International Data Governance & Exchange Program, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and the Ontario Brain Institute. Participation is available to organizations worldwide.

The Neuroscience Community is one of several communities of interest recently founded by GA4GH to bring together global experts who focus on a specific topic to find a path toward better data use.

“Great work is happening all over the world to understand neurological conditions, including their genomic underpinnings. The GA4GH & INCF Neuroscience Community will ensure that all those experts are sharing best practices, developing interoperable standards, and building connections across data,” said Angela Page, GA4GH director of strategy and engagement.

Reference

Two leading standards bodies launch Neuroscience Community, powering a global data network that will speed up answers in autism, Parkinson’s, addiction, and more. News release. Global Alliance for Genomics and Health; December 1, 2023. Accessed December 4, 2023.