In the ever-evolving landscape of scientific research, the key to discovery lies in the data. What could you do with over 14 petabytes of multimodal data spanning a million subjects and multiple model organisms? Welcome to the Velsera Seven Bridges Core Platform, where connectivity, collaboration and analysis meet discovery.
The Seven Bridges Core Platform connects to a vast collection of datasets, allowing researchers to ask novel questions and reduce the time and cost of discovery. These datasets comprise a spectrum of sequencing strategies (whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, ATAC-seq, CHIP-seq, RNA-sequencing) as well as diverse proteomics, metabolomics, immunoassays, and imaging modalities. This unparalleled access enables insights into cancer, birth defects, and aging, as well as vascular, pulmonary, and sleep disorders.
In this blog, we’ll give you an overview of how Velsera brings together so many disparate datasets, how collectively these resources can super charge scientific research and ultimately, how connected data can accelerate the drug discovery process.
Connecting the Dots: Navigating the Sea of Connected Data
At the heart of this revolutionary platform are collaborations with prominent initiatives like the NCI Cancer Genomics Cloud, NHLBI BioData Catalyst Powered by Seven Bridges, and NIH Common Fund-supported CAVATICA. Collectively, they bring together over 14 petabytes of connected data, forming a rich tapestry for researchers to explore and analyze.
But it doesn’t stop there. The Velsera Seven Bridges Core Platform seamlessly links to numerous NIH-approved data repositories under the new Data Management and Sharing Plan.
Velsera’s platform has interoperability at the heart. Velsera has been involved in creating and leading the development of standards that are able to transform data from just a collection into functional, usable datasets. For example, the creation and development of the Data Repository Service (DRS) has provided a way to access data in different locations in the cloud. The flexible GA4GH Passport manages different types of data access authorizations, overseen by various data access committees. Additionally, integration with multiple FHIR Servers enables the retrieval of complex clinical and phenotypic data, supporting various ontologies based on the data needed for your research questions. This trio of standards forms a strong interoperability triangle unique to Velsera, allowing researchers to get to the data they need transparently and effortlessly. Our infrastructure lets researchers collaboratively focus on what matters: the scientific research.
This connectivity extends across various storage locations, be it local databases, cloud storage providers (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure), or ftp/http repositories.
The result? Unprecedented access to diverse datasets, fostering a collaborative ecosystem where data knows no boundaries.
Why Connected Data Matters:
So, why is connected data a game-changer for researchers? The possibilities are as vast as the datasets themselves.
- Ask New Questions:
Millions of dollars annually are spent collecting data to investigate the complexities of human health and disease. However, the questions asked of these datasets have not yet unlocked the full potential of answers that the data may provide. The wealth of data available, such as that from NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed), empowers researchers to ask new and groundbreaking questions without the need for timely and costly data generation. The interconnected nature of these datasets opens avenues for exploration that were previously unimaginable.
- Develop New Tools:
While some researchers are focused on a specific disease, others advance science by developing novel tools to analyze particular data types. These researchers can leverage existing datasets and focus on developing innovative tools instead. This shift accelerates the pace of scientific discovery, enabling the creation of methodologies that might have been hindered by data collection logistics.
- Combine and Compare:
Connect with datasets regardless of their storage location, and seamlessly integrate them with your own data. Whether building cohorts or conducting additional comparisons, this level of connectivity provides a holistic view, offering insights that transcend individual datasets.
- Validate Findings:
Researchers can now validate their findings from cell culture or animal models in existing datasets. This not only adds robustness to the research but also promotes a more comprehensive understanding of the scientific landscape.
Ultimately, this interconnected approach saves both time and money. Researchers can harness the power of public datasets to drive their research forward, facilitating faster scientific discovery and accelerating pre-clinical research and development.
In the upcoming blog series, we’ll spotlight specific datasets that have played a pivotal role in scientific advancements. Stay tuned as we unravel the stories behind the data, showcasing the real-world impact of connected data on research and discovery.
Ready to embrace the future of research through connected data? Connect with our experts today, whether you’re a subject matter expert or in business development to understand how you can leverage public datasets on the Velsera Seven Bridges Core Platform to drive your biomedical research or precision medicine strategy. The era of connected data has arrived – seize the opportunity to revolutionize your scientific journey
