ELIXIR-UK has conceived BioFAIR, a new digital research infrastructure that enables the data and processing resources of ELIXIR and other partners to be delivered to researchers across the UK. A national BioCommons will maximise the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability (FAIR) and Reproducibility of life science data and data workflows.
BioFAIR will enable all UK researchers to benefit from the extensive range of world-leading data management and analysis infrastructure developed in the UK and with our international colleagues.
By sharing how we both collect, manage and access data and develop analysis pipelines, we will support UK data stewards and research software engineers and enable UK researchers to accelerate their discoveries.
Prof Carole Goble, University of Manchester – Joint Head of Node of ELIXIR-UK
Biology is increasingly becoming a data-driven science. Life scientists generate large and complex data sets, which have huge potential to transform our understanding of life on Earth – but only if we can make sense of all the data.
This new investment demonstrates the UK’s commitment to open and reproducible research and this will ensure that we can realise the enormous potential of life science data.
Not only will BioFAIR empower researchers by providing the resources they need for better data management and analyses, but it will also ensure data is preserved beyond the lifespan of an individual research project so the most value can be extracted from it.
Prof Neil Hall, Earlham Institute – Joint Head of Node of ELIXIR-UK
The five-year funding of £34 million for BioFAIR is subject to business case approvals. The investment comes from UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund and the Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) programme.
This need for BioFAIR is supported by the outcomes of a Feasibility Study commissioned to ELIXIR-UK by UKRI-BBSRC, UKRI-MRC and Wellcome Trust, and carried out with Technopolis Group. It’s possible to read the full report here.