AD Workbench: Transforming Alzheimer's research with secure, global, and collaborative data sharing and analysis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative (AD Data Initiative) is a global coalition of partners accelerating scientific discoveries in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) by breaking down data silos, eliminating barriers to research, and fostering collaboration among scientists studying these issues. METHODS: The flagship product of the AD Data Initiative technical suite is AD Workbench, a secure, cloud-based environment that enables global access, analysis, and sharing of datasets, as well as interoperability with other key data platforms. RESULTS: As of April 7, 2025, AD Workbench has 6178 registered users from 115 countries, including 886 users from 60 low- and middle-income countries. On average, more than 500 users, including over 100 new users, log in each month to discover data and conduct integrative analyses. DISCUSSION: By prioritizing interoperability and robust security within a collaborative framework, AD Workbench is well positioned to drive advancements in AD treatments and diagnostic tools. Highlights: Data sharing Interoperability Cloud-based analytics Collaborative workspace.