We propose the establishment of a data coordinating center (DCC) for the Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN) with responsibilities for ?managing, curating, and disseminating the data and resources generated through this network. We will provide key services to organize and support the Research Centers that comprise this network, and foster a community based on collaboration, transparency, and sharing. Our primary scientific objective is to accelerate the discovery of mechanisms governing tumorigenesis, progression, and evolution, which will lead to improved prevention and treatment strategies for patients.
We aim to achieve this by providing technology services coupled with best practices to expedite data acquisition and dissemination to HTAN researchers, as well as the broader scientific community. Computational pipelines will be developed and shared to enable data harmonization, and analytic tools and visualizations will be hosted on cBioPortal to facilitate data access and analysis for a wide spectrum of users ranging from data scientists and statisticians to biologists and clinicians. We will also host crowd-sourced challenges to engage researchers outside of HTAN to address important scientific questions.
The Human Tumor Atlas (HTA) Project aims to leverage the power of human genome sequencing and other state-of-the-art profiling technologies, to analyze spatial and temporal molecular changes in individual tumors. The Data Coordination Center (DCC) will ensure that all data generated by the Human Tumor Atlas Project use the same data standards, that all data is hosted in one centralized location, and that all data is shared within the HTA Network and eventually with the wider scientific community. To maximize the research impact of the data generated, the DCC will also provide powerful analysis and visualization features, and these services and tools will enable researchers to make novel discoveries about the initiation and progression of cancer, as well as the development of resistance to cancer therapy.
