A new online data access application will provide cancer researchers with a more streamlined and secure way to access important information about tumour mutations.
On May 16, the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) Data Access Compliance Office (DACO) launched a new website that gives researchers access to ICGC’s controlled data sets.
ICGC’s catalogue of tumour-specific data is freely available to the scientific community, offering key insights into cancer biomarkers that can inform the next generation of diagnostics and therapies. But to minimize the risk of identifying donors, ICGC DACO developed a simple yet secure authorization process for research teams wanting to access the data.
The new site replaces the original ICGC DACO website, an innovative data access application that has been harnessed by about 1,500 researchers since it launched in 2011.
The redesigned website offers better usability, including an improved application form that guides applicants through the process. Under a new data access agreement, the revamped site allows researchers to be approved for two years of access to IGCC controlled data, instead of just one year under the legacy system.
Data security is paramount in the new website, which offers even stronger security to ensure that only known, authorized users can access the data sets. New security features include a single sign-on identification system through Google based authentication.
The legacy ICGC DACO website has now been retired, so approved research teams are strongly encouraged to copy over the relevant information from their legacy application to a new application in the new website.
“We are proud to offer a more streamlined website that is easier to manage and reduces the risk of data loss,” says Kim Cullion, Senior UX/UI Designer for OICR’s Genome Informatics team. “We thank our talented team of engineers, architects and everyone who contributed to the project, and are excited for the first batch of applications to be approved soon.”
Visit the new ICGC DACO website at daco.icgc-argo.org