Accelerating cancer systems biology research through Semantic Web technology

作者:Wang Zhihui; Sagotsky Jonathan; Taylor Thomas; Shironoshita Patrick; Dei**oeck Thomas S*
来源:Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Systems Biology and Medicine, 2013, 5(2): 135-151.
DOI:10.1002/wsbm.1200

摘要

Cancer systems biology is an interdisciplinary, rapidly expanding research field in which collaborations are a critical means to advance the field. Yet the prevalent database technologies often isolate data rather than making it easily accessible. The Semantic Web has the potential to help facilitate web-based collaborative cancer research by presenting data in a manner that is self-descriptive, human and machine readable, and easily sharable. We have created a semantically linked online Digital Model Repository (DMR) for storing, managing, executing, annotating, and sharing computational cancer models. Within the DMR, distributed, multidisciplinary, and inter-organizational teams can collaborate on projects, without forfeiting intellectual property. This is achieved by the introduction of a new stakeholder to the collaboration workflow, the institutional licensing officer, part of the Technology Transfer Office. Furthermore, the DMR has achieved silver level compatibility with the National Cancer Institute%26apos;s caBIG, so users can interact with the DMR not only through a web browser but also through a semantically annotated and secure web service. We also discuss the technology behind the DMR leveraging the Semantic Web, ontologies, and grid computing to provide secure inter-institutional collaboration on cancer modeling projects, online grid-based execution of shared models, and the collaboration workflow protecting researchers%26apos; intellectual property. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2013, 5:135151. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1200 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.

  • 出版日期2013-4
  • 单位MIT