Computers and Databases
In order to support the iCAPTURE Centre users, image generation, and data storage and analysis; a powerful computer network is absolutely critical. This network becomes the true foundation on which the iCAPTURE Centre is built. Newly available networking technology will allow faster communications and data transfer within our site, between hospital sites and UBC, and to the internet.
Data Management:
With 10 gigabytes of information coming on-line every month, data management and analysis is going to be a fundamental part of the iCAPTURE Centre. Current databases that are in the Cardiovascular Registry, Pulmonary Registry, and Blood Vessel Registry will be combined. Existing Registry images will be digitized and entered into a database for research and collaboration purposes.
Data Analysis:
Data will be analyzed using the rapidly emerging science, Bioinformatics and the age-old technique, Statistics. Bioinformatics can be defined in broad terms as the storage, manipulation, access and analysis of biological research data. It involves the creation of methods and applications that are utilized by the end user to aid in the process of scientific discovery in the biological research realm. The utilization of strong computing power and programming languages will facilitate the ease of analysis and the process of discovery for the bench scientist. The field has emerged amidst the continuous outpour of biological research data, when it was recognized that the power of computing is the only way that the global picture can be gained. The field has also revolutionized the idea of biological networks worldwide; with the evolution of Internet programming and the integration of that in the scope of Bioinformatics, the limits of discovery will soon become endless.
Bioinformatics, Statistics, and a Data Mining personnel ( a term for analyzing data from gene and protein banks) will assist iCAPTURE researchers in integrating the data and ensuring the power of all the technological tools is used to the fullest capability.
view diagram
The iCAPTURE Centre Databases:
The iCAPTURE Centre data warehouse will be
composed of multiple relational databases of information that will
be integrated in such a way so as to maximize discovery-driven and
hypothesis-driven cardiovascular, pulmonary and blood vessel research,
and will minimize dependence on the nature of specific questions
being asked by the individual researchers. The warehouse will be
composed
of genomic, proteomic as well as phenotypic and epidemiological databases
each of which will be designed and optimized to maximize query capabilities
and provide flexibility for future customizations. The data models
of each respective data repository will be designed with iterative
consultation with the "data collectors" as well as the
end
"data users". It will also be designed taking into consideration
the integration requirements with sister databases and the overall
spectrum of queries that will be asked by the end-user.
This architecture will not only allow us to efficiently and continually
add additional information, but will also allow for accession of
the
data warehouse. It will facilitate the development and deployment
of intelligent or automated systems and rapidly identify networks
of associations between various types and fields of data. These systems
will become crucial for exploiting the strength of the iCAPTURE data
warehouse once it has reached optimal capacity.
Please stay tuned for the official launch of
The iCAPTURE Centre Database.
For further information about The iCAPTURE Centre Database please
contact: info@mrl.ubc.ca