Data analysis: Create a cloud commons

Abstract

By taking the right approach to cloud computing, the human genomics community could pave the way for researchers in many other fields, from neuroscience to epidemiology, who are similarly grappling with data overload. -------------------------------------------------------One possible risk is that, by rising to dominance, a single provider of cloud services could come to control pricing, and so subtly influence how the science is performed. To prevent this from happening, funding agencies should fund the deposition of the same important data sets in multiple clouds. This would also help to address jurisdictional sticking points. Genomic data originating in Europe, for instance, could be confined to clouds based in Europe. ---------------------------------------------------------- On the legal side, rules of the road must be established to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the funding agencies, the data custodians, the cloud service providers and the researchers who use cloud-based genomic data. If someone posted an ICGC genome on Facebook, for instance, who among these various players should be held accountable? Fortunately, for the past two years, an international coalition, the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (genomicsandhealth.org) has prepared a Framework for Responsible Sharing of Genomic and Health-Related Data.