An interoperable data architecture for data exchange in a biomedical research network

Knowledge discovery and data correlation require a unified approach to basic data management. However, achieving such an approach is nearly impossible with hundreds of disparate data sources, legacy systems and data formats. This problem is pervasive in the biomedical research community, where data models, taxonomies and data management systems are locally implemented. These local implementations create an environment where interoperability and collaboration between researchers and research institutions are limited. The authors demonstrate how technology developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for space science can be used to build an interoperable data architecture for bioinformatics. JPL has taken a novel approach towards solving this problem by exploiting Web technologies usually dedicated to e-commerce, combined with a rich, metadata-based environment. This paper discusses the approach taken to develop a prototype data architecture for the discovery and validation of disease biomarkers within a biomedical research network. Biomarkers are measured parameters of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention. Biomarkers are of growing importance in biomedical research for therapeutic discovery, disease prevention and detection. A bioinformatics infrastructure is crucial to support the integration and analysis of large, complex biological and epidemiological data sets.