# Computational Support for All Echinobase Objectives

> **NIH NIH P41** · CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $144,905

## Abstract

SUMMARY COMPUTATIONAL 1
Computational Support for all Echinobase Objectives
The goal of the Computation component is to keep Echinobase operational, reliable, and responsive, to
maintain and upgrade the hardware, cloud, infrastructure, software and systems necessary for peak
performance and to develop and support the proposed improvements described in other sections of this
application. Knowledgebases like Echinobase must integrate and process a diverse array of data and provide
users with tools and interfaces to query and explore its content. These are all computational processes. In
addition, Echinobase must interface with external databases and resources (NCBI, the AGR, publishers) to
synchronize content and to provide annotated echinoderm data. Although invisible to the user, there is a
considerable amount of computing that occurs behind the scenes every time a researcher uses Echinobase.
Echinobase is a complex computing environment consisting of multiple, separate databases, many different
software applications, user and curator web interfaces, and many automated data exchange pipelines. To
ensure stability and enhance performance, tool sets are isolated on their own virtual machines (VMs) - we
currently run ~10 VMs in our private cloud - and we constantly monitor, test, maintain, and fix bugs to keep it all
running smoothly. Each time new software is implemented, we test it on isolated VMs, then optimize and
integrate it with existing systems. Many of these systems, including the database and the web application
server, will be migrated to new systems in the new cycle, along with a move from private cloud to the public
cloud. All of this activity is contained within the Computation component and is paramount to achieving our
overall project goals. In this component, we describe the computing work needed to maintain current
functionality, generate custom content and the resources necessary to implement expansions and
improvements over the next award cycle.
Aim 1. Migrate software stack to open source systems and implement core features on the commercial cloud
Aim 2. Maintain and expand computation of Echinobase content
Aim 3. Manage and monitor networking and systems

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10933432
- **Project number:** 5P41HD095831-07
- **Recipient organization:** CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** PETER D VIZE
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $144,905
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-22 → 2024-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10933432

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10933432, Computational Support for All Echinobase Objectives (5P41HD095831-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10933432. Licensed CC0.

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