Overture: A Multi-Scale Data Platform for Cancer Genomics Research

Project Summary/Abstract Overture is a collection of modular, open-source software components designed to make the management of big-data genomic projects both easy and more cost effective. The Overture system promotes FAIR data sharing of cancer genomic datasets by overcoming the major obstacles in storing, managing, exploring, and distributing massive genome-scale datasets. In this proposed project, we will implement a turnkey Overture Data Management System (DMS) to provide a complete solution to manage cancer genomic data throughout the data life cycle, and to continue lowering the technical barriers faced by researchers in the cancer informatics community. To extend the capabilities and potential of the Overture DMS, we will establish a new software framework for integration with third-party visualization applications, and for data exchange with analysis platforms. This framework will empower the community to continue developing extremely valuable visualization applications for specific research interests and datatypes, and to contribute them as “apps” to be integrated with the Overture DMS. Over the next five years, we will: (1) combine the core set of Overture components into a scalable DMS installation bundle to promote both local and cloud deployment for a range of small to consortia-scale datasets; (2) extend the DMS with third-party visualization and analysis tools through a novel software data integration framework; (3) enhance data access controls by implementing Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) Passport and Data Use Ontology standards; (3) enable federated searching within cancer datasets across different Overture platforms; and (4) improve outreach and community resources to meet the needs of bioinformaticians, data producers and managers, data scientists, and clinical researchers. The Overture DMS will be a valuable resource for removing complications of large-scale data management from researchers, allowing the advancement of scientific research by increasing data sharing and discovery.