"Be sustainable": EOSC-Life recommendations for implementation of FAIR principles in life science data handling

Abstract

The main goals and challenges for the life science communities in the Open Science framework are to increase reuse and sustainability of data resources, software tools, and workflows, especially in large-scale data-driven research and computational analyses. Here, we present key findings, procedures, effective measures and recommendations for generating and establishing sustainable life science resources based on the collaborative, cross-disciplinary work done within the EOSC-Life (European Open Science Cloud for Life Sciences) consortium. Bringing together 13 European life science research infrastructures, it has laid the foundation for an open, digital space to support biological and medical research. Using lessons learned from 27 selected projects, we describe the organisational, technical, financial and legal/ethical challenges that represent the main barriers to sustainability in the life sciences. We show how EOSC-Life provides a model for sustainable data management according to FAIR (findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability) principles, including solutions for sensitive- and industry-related resources, by means of cross-disciplinary training and best practices sharing. Finally, we illustrate how data harmonisation and collaborative work facilitate interoperability of tools, data, solutions and lead to a better understanding of concepts, semantics and functionalities in the life sciences.

Figure 1. Position and organisation of EOSC‐Life in the EOSC and LS RIs ecosystems

EOSC‐Life is one of five ESFRI Science Cluster projects (the other four clusters are PaNOSC, ENVRI‐FAIR, ESCAPE, SSHOC). EOSC brings together 13 LS RIs and domains experts to populate EOSC with LSs FAIR data, tools, resources, harmonised solutions, policies and guidelines and concrete user projects altogether facilitating interoperability in the EOSC (respective interactions and impact are illustrated by arrows).

Figure 2. EOSC‐Life operational framework, extending from the end user to the EOSC ecosystem

Dashed lines indicate use of and contributions to the framework, while thick arrows indicate process flow within the framework.

Figure 3. EOSC‐Life Sensitive Data toolbox development scheme

One main challenge regarding sensitive data concerns the findability of resources and terminologies used to classify data. An iterative method, involving the subset of the participating LS RIs (BBMRI (https://www.bbmri-eric.eu), ERINHA (www.erinha.eu), ECRIN (https://ecrin.org/), EATRIS (https://eatris.eu/), EUROBIOIMAGING (https://www.eurobioimaging.eu), EMBRC (https://www.embrc.eu/)), with several versions, was used to reach an interdisciplinary consensus on a sustainable categorisation system, and the classification of toolbox resources by sensitive data type, resource type, research field, data type, stage in life cycle, geographical scope and specific topics related to sensitiveness.

Figure 4. Key component driving, facilitating and challenging the sustainability process—lessons from the EOSC‐Life project

Sustainability essentials are prerequisites including availability of financial resources, competent experts, technical infrastructures, aligned policies and recognition. These components allow a set of sustainability tools operating towards sustainability to be defined: e.g. via integration of user projects (open calls); community training; dissemination addressing specific needs; creating and expanding the experts networks. The main linked sustainability challenges are securing long‐term financing to retain expertise and maintain solutions; engaging institutions and communities while harmonising alignment in common strategies and priorities; and enhancing a reward system that supports re‐use of available resources.

Figure 5. EOSC‐Life Recommendations for ensuring and facilitating sustainability

Recommendations for ensuring and facilitating sustainability are based on 5 pillars shown here, clockwise from the top: to base the network on experts, and disseminate on a broad‐scale; and to demonstrate, to act and plan training and improve metadata; to be prepared to act now, but remain adaptable, and curate data as soon as possible; to strengthen the community with federated governance, harmonised and integrated RIs, and sustainability actions rewarded; to be inclusive and open‐minded, and to treat innovation and sustainability independently.

Figure 6. Cross‐Be SUstainable REcommendations and FAIR principles implementation

Classification of EOSC‐Life “Be SUstainable REcommendations” in essential recommendations (orange) and recommendations which can be of help (green) for concrete FAIR principles implementations.