The image and data archive at the laboratory of neuro imaging

Abstract

The Image and Data Archive (IDA) is a secure online resource for archiving, exploring, and sharing neuroscience data run by the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI). The laboratory first started managing neuroimaging data for multi-centered research studies in the late 1990's and since has become a nexus for many multi-site collaborations. By providing management and informatics tools and resources for de-identifying, integrating, searching, visualizing, and sharing a diverse range of neuroscience data, study investigators maintain complete control over data stored in the IDA while benefiting from a robust and reliable infrastructure that protects and preserves research data to maximize data collection investment.

Keywords: IDA; data archive; data repository; data sharing; neuroimaging.

FIGURE 1

The IDA manages more than 85,000 subjects from over 140 research studies and 270 institutions and receives new data daily. Users search for and apply to featured studies on the IDA home page by searching study criteria such as study design and research focus.

FIGURE 2

IDA study management pages provide a history of uploads and downloads of each neuroimaging modality. Counts of image uploads are categorized as original (images archived directly from scanner), processed (images corrected for artifacts, etc.) quarantined (removed from general view), and failed (not passing quality control).

FIGURE 3

Collaborating institutions transfer data to and from the IDA while study committees allow access to approved researchers. In the diagram, Institution #1 uploads locally-acquired neuroimaging scans and clinical data. Download queues and the IDA Sync API make this data readily accessible to other institutions (e.g., Institution #2) for processing and reuploading.

FIGURE 4

Over 145,000 users from 162 countries have downloaded more than 272 million neuroimaging data scans from the IDA.