Transcript Using the Drupal Content Management Software (CMS) as a

Using the Drupal Content Management
Software (CMS) as a framework for
OMICS/Imaging-based collaboration
Content: FaceBase, a collaborative project of craniofacial researchers, is developing a comprehensive
repository of the genetics underlying midfacial development. When complete, the FaceBase Hub
will include multiple types of human and animal model data (including images, genotypes,
expression analysis, and sequence data), a comprehensive set of web-based tools for mining the
databases, a forum for connections between investigators to enable enhanced research
opportunities, access to translational research including a bio-repository, as well as genetics tools
and mouse strains for clefting research.
Technology: Drupal, an open-source Content Management Software (CMS) tool, serves as the platform
for development of the FaceBase web portal.
Design: It provides flexible, configurable support for standard web facilities (user account management,
uploading data, searching and browsing capabilities, annotation tools, publications archive, etc), via
a broad range of open-source, freely available modules that can be easily installed and customized.
Drupal and its extensive module library effectively provide a low-cost core foundation, freeing
resources for the development of functionality (in the form of new modules) specific to scientific
needs. One of the goals of the FaceBase effort is to develop a general model of the software
components needed to support bioinformatics data portals, which can then be applied to building
portals serving other areas of research.
Results: Building on the software engineering community’s work in design patterns, we are developing
a set of abstract pattern descriptions of the various classes of functionality required for sites such
as FaceBase.
Conclusions: These descriptions, implemented by a set of Drupal modules, will provide infrastructure
that will both support and facilitate basic science, clinical, and translational research and advance
data sharing to facilitate research in cleft palate and lip abnormalities.
Drupal Content Management System
• Open-source Content Management Software
(CMS) tool
• Flexible, configurable support for standard
web facilities
• Easily installable and customizable modules:
Resources for the development of
functionality specific to users needs
• Platform for several collaborative web portals
Architecture
URL: www.facebase.org
Diverse Projects
Gene Wiki
User Forums
Custom Data Upload
Custom Image View
Technology Probes
• Hutchinson, et al, 2003
• Prototypes designed to elicit responses and
promote discussion
Technology Probe: Linked Data
Technology Probe: Literature Search
Technology Probe: Annotating Images
Technology Probe: Gene Atlas
Contact Us:
[email protected]
Ketaki Desai, Ph.D.
Dept. of Biomedical Informatics
University of Pittsburgh
[email protected]