Multi-Omics Data Management & Analysis (DeCOI Module 2)

The management of omic data requires a scalable and secure infrastructure, which in particular enables the linking of omic data with clinical data. Due to the volumes, and the considerable computing capacity required for processing omics data, a dedicated infrastructure is necessary, which is significantly influenced by the need of different types of clinical data.

A central database for the management, analysis and integration of omics data with clinical phenotypes is therefore an indispensable component for the long-term success of the NaFoUniMedCovid-19 network. The DeCOI Module 2 builds on existing national networks, in particular the German Human Genome Phenome Archive (GHGA, www.ghga.de) and the NGS Competence Network (NGS-CN; ngs-kn.de), which together form the core of DeCOI (www.decoi.eu) and sees closely coordinated interfaces to the LEOSS (LEOSS.net) register, NFDI4Microbiota (https://nfdi4microbiota.de/) and the National Data Platform (https://www.covid19dataportal.org).

Preparatory work and existing capacities:

GHGA operates a federated network of data hubs with direct connections to the major sequencing centres in Germany. GHGA is largely financed by contributions from the institutions financed. The further expansion of the infrastructure is also to be financed with funds from the National research data infrastructure are supported (NFDI, application under review). The main components of the infrastructure are already operational, with several petabytes of sequence data are stored at GHGA data centres. The data centers are also accessible via existing infrastructures, such as the BMBF-funded German Network for Bioinformatics Infrastructure (de.NBI), tightly interlocked. The existing de.NBI cloud nodes provide the basis for a reliable analysis of omic data by academic researchers. Via de.NBI, GHGA can be sent directly to the European bioinformatics network ELIXIR. This makes GHGA currently the only German nodes of the European COVID-19 data platform.