Our Impact

Potential of big data

Big Data Can Change the Future for Children with Cancer

Imagine a future with…

  • Earlier diagnoses
  • Safer and more effective treatments
  • Less harmful and fewer long-term side effects
  • Higher survival rates
  • Cures for all kids with cancer

Big data refers to extremely large and complex collections of data generated from a variety of sources. The sheer volume of these datasets means they contain massive amounts of information. This immense amount of pediatric cancer data that exists across the globe can offer unique perspectives and answer complex scientific questions, leading to critical discoveries that will improve outcomes for children with cancer.

Harnessing The Power of Big Data to Save Lives

The possibilities are out there, but seizing them is a challenge. Data is often spread out in various locations in many different formats and is not always immediately useful to researchers. The Childhood Cancer Data Lab is helping to realize the potential of big data by harmonizing large-scale collections of transcriptomic data, teaching researchers the skills they need to analyze their data, and constructing tools such as refine.bio and the ScPCA Portal, which make data openly available to researchers around the world. We develop resources, share knowledge, and create opportunities for collaboration so researchers can progress more quickly. Harnessing the power of big data can change the future for children with cancer.

Impact of our work

1.3 Million Samples
and
Counting

The Data Lab has harmonized more than 1.3 million data samples, data that initially cost approximately $1.3 billion to generate, with refine.bio. This saves researchers approximately two weeks of time that would normally be spent processing datasets, totaling decades of researcher time saved. Nearly 6500 datasets have been downloaded from refine.bio.

We have trained 320 childhood cancer researchers to better analyze their own data. These researchers have been introduced to the most cutting-edge technology used in single-cell RNA-sequencing and bulk RNA-sequencing data analysis. The Data Lab remains available as a resource to all training participants as they apply what they have learned in their work.

Trained over 300 Childhood Cancer Researchers

Putting
Single-Cell Data in the hands of Researchers

The Data Lab is processing hundreds of patient samples representing a variety of tumor types for the Single-cell Pediatric Cancer Atlas (ScPCA). We also developed the ScPCA portal to make the outputs of this project readily and openly available, putting this data in the hands of more researchers.

We have contributed to the analysis of more than 1,000 pediatric cancer brain tumors through the OpenPBTA project to gain a deeper understanding of one of the leading causes of death in children and young adults.

Collaborated with over 60 Researchers, across 20 institutions

With your help, we can

Train at least 200 childhood cancer researchers over the next four years.

Fund innovative models to scale training workshops.

Offer our expertise and provide consultation on projects that will change the future for children fighting cancer.

Develop resources that are free and openly available to researchers maximizing our reach and connecting childhood cancer experts around the world.