BICCN

A Community Resource for Single Cell Data in the Brain

A detailed census of the structure and role of cell type specific data in the brain is recognized to be one of the most promising avenues for advancing our understanding of the human brain in health and disease. The BRAIN Cell Data Center (BCDC) will support the goals of the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) by providing a foundational community resource for housing single-cell centered data content in the brain. We will lead, together with BICCN data generation partners, in the development and deployment of fundamental data models, common community standards, data, and scientific results to improve our understanding of the diverse cell types in the mammalian brain and its organizational logic.  Specific aims include:
 

• Develop a data collection, quantification, and mapping framework for managing data and information across diverse repositories. Support the acquisition of fundamental data types from BICCN partners, by developing the data models and framework for importing structured data into the BCDC.
• Establish semantic and spatial community standards for description and management of single cell data modalities. Working with BICCN data providers, create and promote consistent data description standards that describe and facilitate best practices for community use of multi-modal single cell data and its content.
• Develop and extend common coordinate frameworks (CCF) based on searchable digital atlases for data mapping, access, and navigation. Refine and extend the 3-D Allen Institute Common Coordinate Framework for the mouse to enable external mapping of key single cell modalities in a 2D and 3D anatomic context for access and visualization at cell, and nuclei level.
• Create a unified and integrated web-accessible Cell Registry and Portal for single brain cell data, tools, and knowledge. Develop and maintain an open-access web portal supporting data retrieval, search, visualization, and analysis of cell specific data and knowledge synthesis.
• Facilitate and coordinate activities within the BICCN network to insure success of the BRAIN Cell Data Center (BCDC) and its resources for the community. Maximize impact through strong BICCN partnership management, communication, standards committees, and analysis working groups. Develop infrastructure for maximizing community usage, publishing standards and tutorials, coordinating education and outreach.

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