caBIG™: Opportunities and challenges to creating a federated global network of interoperable information systems

The cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (caBIGtrade) was initiated by the US National Cancer Institute in 2004 to address the need for interoperable information systems to enable molecular medicine for oncology. With the successful completion of the pilot phase of caBIGtrade in 2007, the NCI is in the process of expanding the program into the broader biomedical research and care delivery arena. To accomplish this goal it is necessary to address a series of challenges associated with common semantics, security, interoperability standards and politics. A partnership between caBIGtrade and the UK National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is providing an initial model for addressing these challenges more globally.