ICSC Core - Informatics

PROJECT SUMMARY – CORE/INFORMATICS The ICSC Informatics Core is the information technology backbone of the NIH Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Centers (MMRRC). As such, the Informatics Core maintains the MMRRC website and databases, it provides all communication services, generates metrics, and it optimizes the MMRRC marketing effort through targeted analyses. This is accomplished with the following IT solutions: [1] a secure MySQL relational database that centralizes all information pertaining to archive holdings, customer accounts, acquisition/order processing, and service requests; [2] an electronic archive of MMRRC documents to secure organizational process assets (SOPs, policies), reports & summaries (meeting minutes, metric reports), and legal agreements (COUs, MTAs); [3] an expert-curated catalog of MMRRC holdings with deep-annotated information on gene(s), allele(s), genetic background, nomenclature, unique identifiers, phenotype, publications, licensing information, husbandry, health, as well as availability & pricing in convenient strain data sheets; [4] data tracking and process refinement to log all information on any one record while simplifying data curation and removing risks to data quality; [5] MMRRC metrics systems that interactively visualizes MMRRC performance in terms of holdings, orders, user access, traffic, and outreach campaign responses; and [6] internal and external data exchanges to enable efficient information sharing between the four MMRRC Centers as well as networking with remote authoritative databases (e.g., PubMed, RRID, MGI, IMSR, Monarch, OMIMM, etc.). The Informatics, furthermore, provides all programming and information technology for the ICSC Applied Research Project. The Informatics Core, hence, takes responsibility for all IT-related development, implementation, expansion, and maintenance of the MMRRC as a resource for the research community under strict adherence to standard industry practices to enhance data stability & security. The success of the Informatics Core efforts is backed by statistics: since 2015, the MMRRC enjoys formidable increases in its user base (~50%) and holdings (~100%) following streamlined donation/order processing with a focus on user-friendliness. In summary, the Informatics Core permits the operational excellence the research community has come to expect from the MMRRC as a bioresearch community resource for translational inquiries into human disease etiology and intervention.