Cancer InfoMatrix
Cancer InfoMatrix
Cancer InfoMatrix is an online tool that provides links, information and monitors informatics activity across the spectrum of biomedical cancer research. It is an up-to-date and dynamic resource that aims at promoting adoption of standards, data sharing and data integration within and between biomedical cancer research domains. It is generic in its applicability and can be applied to any major area of biomedical research (e.g. cardiovascular disease). In addition to displaying information, it also aims to identify areas of commonality between projects.
The key biomedical cancer research domains are arranged across the horizontal axis while on the vertical axis are broad areas of informatics that enable data access and exchange. Definitions of the domains and the informatics areas can be found by clicking on them. The matrix cells are populated by instances which are projects on different stages of maturity that have met a set of inclusion criteria. Additional information on the instances can be found by clicking on them. This is not an exhaustive list of all the informatics activity within an area and suggestions are welcome from Principal Investigators who would like their projects to be included. If you would like to submit a project for inclusion please contact us.
The Cancer InfoMatrix is intended to be used by different stakeholders in the following ways:
- NCRI Partners to identify key funding needs
- by the research community to identify research opportunities
- by the research community to identify key collaborators
- by funders inform their peer-review decision making
- by the wider cancer community as an information resource tool
- by the NCRI Informatics Coordination Unit as a coordination tool
The cells in the Cancer InfoMatrix are colour coded using a "traffic-lights system" to indicate the degree of progress in each area:
A green cell denotes that well established standard(s) or technology exists in this area, and careful thought should be given before funding or commencing work.
A red cell denotes no known activity in an area, funding agencies may think of a call for proposals.
An amber cell denotes that some work is already underway (ranging anywhere in between starting preliminary work right through to starting implementation), and funding agencies should check the ongoing efforts before funding/commencing a new project. In addition interested parties should be encouraged to seek for collaboration where possible.