# University of Maryland NIH Data Commons Facilitation Center

> **NIH NIH OT3** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2020 · $8,785,440

## Abstract

The NIH Data Commons pilot initiative in RM-17-026 describes the overarching principles for an
ambitious new data ecosystem. Chief among these principles is the need for highly accessible
data and tools distributed across a network of providers. Our group’s role will be to foster
consensus across the Data Commons Pilot Phase Consortium (DCPPC) members as the
Commons is operationalized to ensure each constituent part integrates effectively into a larger
system. We will also contribute to its effectiveness through continuous testing, training and
engagement with the NIH research community.
Among our greatest strengths is an ability to work within a larger research network to rapidly
adapt and enable the collective to achieve its goals. Our role in facilitating success of the
Commons will be in generating a consensus roadmap to implement the Data Commons, and to
promote an effective, self-governing consortium that will monitor and review the Commons
operationalization. Therefore, the role of the Data Commons Facilitation Center (DCFC) will be
to: i) promote data access across TOPMed, GTEx, and the Model Organism Databases, by
harmonizing their metadata together with the other equally important Common Fund data
resources; ii) ensure discoverability of all Commons digital objects by enabling queries against
the harmonized metadata through a web portal; iii) advance workflow orchestration by bridging
the gap between portable and scalable workflow systems and providing tools that can access all
digital objects hosted on the Commons, and; iv) assist in comparative use-case review of data
analysis systems created by the DCPPC using a non-invasive style that treats each funded site
as an independent incubator and tests the effectiveness of the individual DCPPC products in
the context of the larger Commons ecosystem. This will be done with particular attention to the
user’s experience, while at the same time engaging the community to raise user awareness of
all Commons resources through outreach, a helpdesk, and training.
We are well-qualified and highly motivated to achieve the above goals. We are also prepared to
engage in ongoing course modifications that are often required in consortium initiatives as bold
as the Commons. In anticipation of this, we divided each of our offerings into standalone
Research Components. The components are meant to serve as an a la carte menu of options to
draw from during Commons operationalization. Not all components need to begin at once. Each
component is designed to operate effectively on its own. We will nimbly adapt each component
to fit into the changing landscape of data, usage patterns, and computing systems in the
Commons, and we will synergize with the DCPPC. We do not expect to ‘own’ any particular
Commons asset; our interest is to be highly compatible with all elements of the Commons
ecosystem and jointly develop systems with other DCPPC members once it is established.
We are truly excited to provide facilitatio...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10071247
- **Project number:** 3OT3OD025459-01S3
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** Owen R White
- **Activity code:** OT3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $8,785,440
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-09-30 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10071247

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10071247, University of Maryland NIH Data Commons Facilitation Center (3OT3OD025459-01S3). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10071247. Licensed CC0.

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