The NCRI Informatics Initiative was established to address how the cancer research community can more effectively discover, share and utilise the vast amounts of data generated in this field each year. Therefore we are currently exploring ways of revolutionising the way that data is accessed by exploiting advances in Information Technology to create a more open, integrated research environment where data and resources can be shared. We believe that wider access to information, data and other cancer-related resources will accelerate the translation of new discoveries in the lab to effective therapies in the clinic.

Informatics Platform

Our strategy to enabling wider access to cancer-related information has been to work in collaboration with the cancer research community to develop an IT infrastructure, the Informatics Platform which will form an integrated, web-based, research environment where data, information and innovative tools can be shared amongst scientists.

The core component of the Platform, the NCRI Informatics ONcology Information eXchange (ONIX) will be the means through which sharing can occur. Its main function is to hold a central register of resources useful to cancer researches and to allow queries to be run simultaneously across the connected resources enabling users to quickly and easily find and retrieve information in its diverse forms.

The Development of the Informatics Platform

The development of the Informatics Platform is currently underway via the creation of ONIX and will take place over two phases. Phase one began in January 2007 and will continue until December 2008 following which a proof-of-concept version of the Informatics Platform will be released with a limited number of resources connected. We will then move into our second phase which will end in March 2010 with the release of a more functional version of the Informatics Platform.

We are drawing towards the end of phase 1 and in this time we have created two early prototypes of ONIX, established an ONIX User Group who have participated in a series of feedback sessions, finalised the first group of resources that will  connect to ONIX and  are currently exploring the technical requirements for their connection.

Getting Involved

One of our highest priorities is to develop ONIX’s electronic resource catalogue. This catalogue will not be confined to just biomedical data generated from research projects, but also data analysis tools, new research technology and projects involved in standards development. We are always interested in hearing from owners of such resources who are willing to log a small amount of information with us.  If you are interested in registering your resource in the ONIX catalogue please contact us.