Bioinformatics Development Project
Outline
One of the key purposes of the MNC Bioinformatics Development Project is to integrate behavioural, cognitive, neurophysiological and molecular biological data across a range of psychiatric illnesses. We aim to facilitate this goal by providing a flexible conceptual data model and data dictionary for the use of MNC researchers and their collaborators. This data model will encompass, as much as possible, the collaborators’ range of data – where this is not feasible, the data model should be flexible enough that partners may adapt it to suit their own needs.
Justification
In order to maximise data collected from the participants recruited under various projects and programs of research, we must facilitate efficient and accurate data linkages. This will enable more publications through thorough analyses of the collected data.
To encourage and ease the data linkages between MNC and collaborators, we wish to ensure that the conceptual data model we develop encompasses the collaborator’s variables, and that those variables are included in the data dictionary.
CNPP
This initiative has been facilitated as part of the Clinical Neurobiology of Psychiatry Platform (CNPP). This platform, supported by Neurosciences Australia (NSA), is a cross-institutional research platform designed to:
- Develop technical core facilities for the in-depth phenotypic characterisation of psychiatric patient and control populations.
- Integrate behavioural, cognitive, neurophysiological and molecular biological data across a range of psychiatric illnesses.
- Create a bridge between fundamental and clinical neuroscience in relation to psychiatric disorders by linking the CNPP Platform with other platforms of the National Neuroscience Facility (NNF), in particular; the Neuroimaging, Neuroinformatics, National Neural Tissue Resource Centre, Neurogenomics and Neuroproteomics and Integrative Neuroscience Platforms.
The CNPP partners are The University of Melbourne (MNC & Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory), ORYGEN Research Centre, Mental Health Research Institute, Monash University (Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology & Experimental Psychology Unit) and Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre.
Resources
Dr Katherine Manson was appointed in August 2006 as the MNC's Bioinformatics Research Fellow. Katherine has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Physics and a PhD in Astrophysics and has come to us from the School of Physics at The University of Melbourne where she was Project Head for the Australian Virtual Observatory Data Warehouse. Katherine's extensive skills in developing sophisticated and flexible data models for implementation in databases is a key resource for the MNC's Bioinformatics Development Project.
The Bioinformatics Research Fellow position has been facilitated by the Clinical Neurobiology of Psychiatry Platform (CNPP), Neurosciences Australia.
Collaborator's Involvement
We are requesting access only to the variable definitions – not to the data itself – and a collaborative relationship with the people responsible for data management
Overview of the Bioinformatics Project
The bioinformatics development project at MNC has three main goals.
Time Lines
| Task | Estimated Completion Date |
|---|---|
| Conceptual Data Model, including a standard data dictionary of variables and the relationships between them. | June 2007 |
| Prototype Database | July 2007 |
| Data access rights policy | July 2007 |
| Methods for authentication and authorisation implemented | July 2007 |
| Database finalised | August 2007 |
| Protoype user interface | October 2007 |
| Finalise user interface | February 2008 |
| Plans and procedures in place for risk mitigation and disaster recovery | Ongoing |