European Translational Research Informatics and Knowledge Services (eTRIKS): reducing the effort needed to preserve and explore translational research data

eTRIKS is a public/private partnership funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). Unlike most IMI projects, eTRIKS was specifically created to support research collaborations in their translational research data knowledge management needs. <br>Many aspects of managing and working in research collaborations are complex and challenging. Working with the datasets generated in a research collaboration is no exception. There have to be solutions for where databases will be hosted, how access will be controlled, complying with data protection and privacy regulations, integration of different data types, organizing the analysis process, and preserving your data for future use. Currently many datasets reside in 'silos' and new platforms are developed for each new project making the integration and re-use of existing data assets difficult. <br>The mission of eTRIKS is to Maximize the impact of translational research datasets by providing platforms, services, guidance, and trainings that enable the efficient integration, staging, exploration, preservation, and reuse of translational research data.<br>eTRIKS has supported over 30 research collaborations in the last 4 years. We have established know how in advising and supporting projects. Perhaps more importantly eTRIKS has contributed to the development of the open source tranSMART knowledge management platform. Recently the effort has been focused on developing tools to improve data curation as well as better data visualisations, data exploration, and a catalogue of translational research project databases. In addition eTRIKS has developed a translational research data standards starter pack and has contributed to the developed of a code of practice for medical research data re-use. We are also working to address gaps in awareness about the value of medical research data re-use by engaging patients and other stakeholders using a discussion game to build mutual understanding about differences in perspective. <br>In the presentation use cases and examples of how eTRIKS has supported research collaborations will be shown. Some of the open source tools that support data warehousing and data exploration will also be illustrated. <br>Looking to the future eTRIKS know how and assets will be preserved in an eTRIKS network that will continue to support research collaborations including low or no cost solutions for preserving translational research datasets.<br><br><b>Disclosure</b>: Scott Wagers is the CEO of BioSci Consulting which receives funding the IMI as a partner of eTRIKS. BioSci Consulting also provides services for managing research collaborations and will be organising the efforts of the eTRIKS Network