A ground-breaking Imaging Hub, developed by the Dementias Platform (DPUK) Data Portal team based in Population Data Science at Swansea University, will provide researchers with unique access to brain imaging scans, together with phenotypic and genomic data enabling more complex research analysis into dementia.
The DPUK Data Portal brings together records of over 3 million people in a free-to-access resource. Researchers can identify which cohorts are relevant to them, apply for access to the data and then analyse it in a secure, remote environment complete with data linkage and analysis packages.
Imaging Hub allows for complex research to be carried out
The new Imaging Hub brings together raw imaging data from 20 datasets, The Hub contains a range of imaging scans, such as structural, functional and diffusion MRI scans, and standardises them according to the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS). This data can be linked with the phenotypic and genomic data associated with them, allowing for complex research analysis across modalities to be carried out.
Imaging data discovery tool
DPUK have created an imaging data discovery tool that allows researchers to see at a glance the imaging data and the types of scans available. DPUK are also developing data insight reports to give an in depth view of the datasets including information on disease subtypes and collection methods. The tool can be accessed at https://portal.dementiasplatform.uk/AnalyseData/ImagingMatrix
Gateway to advanced analyses and use of artificial intelligence and machine learning
The Imaging Hub will allow researchers to access large numbers of brain imaging scans, accompanied by a wealth of phenotypic and genomic data collected by cohorts, allowing advanced analyses such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
AI and ML, over recent years, have seen an insurgence of use within the field of dementia research, mainly due to a growing amount of data which can be used to train models. The DPUK Data Portal Imaging Hub allows researchers to access over 6,000 participants with imaging data, all standardised to the BIDS format, allowing easier automated scripting across datasets. This will enable researchers to carry out a large-scale analysis within the Portal to answer wide-ranging research questions.
The Data Portal also, supports advanced analysis of imaging data by providing specialist imaging software with a secure, remote virtual environment. All analyses take place within the data portal with only results allowed to leave and DPUK have also integrated a HPC cluster to enable more computationally heavy analysis.
Deposit data with DPUK Data Portal Imaging Hub
As well as accessing data in the Imaging Hub researchers can also apply to store large datasets with the imaging pipeline enabling their data to be standardised, defaced, and tagged for improved provisioning and research-ready data.
Professor Ronan Lyons, Associate Director at DPUK and DPUK Data Portal Lead, said: “The Imaging Hub opens up a new world of possibilities for researchers – giving them easy access to a wealth of data – which can help transform our understanding of dementia.”
For more information on the DPUK Data Portal Imaging Hub including how to apply to use, access, or deposit data, visit https://portal.dementiasplatform.uk