Pope B1, Holliday J1, Leonard C1, Hung I1, Harris J1, Chadderton J1, Alavi Y1, Schumann J1, Goudey B1, Singh S1
1Australian BioCommons, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Biography:
Bernie Pope is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at The University of Melbourne. He is a Computer Scientist and Bioinformatician, with special interest in human omics data analytics, especially in cancer. He leads the Human Genome Informatics Division at Australian BioCommons, whose mission is to empower Australian researchers to easily and securely discover, access, and analyse omics data across national infrastructure. In collaboration with Bioplatforms Australia and partners, Australian BioCommons is delivering the NCRIS-funded GUARDIANS program that is delivering national-scale digital infrastructure to support human omics research nationally. As Bioinformatics Lead at Melbourne Bioinformatics, he contributes to several national and international human omics research projects and is an enthusiastic educator. He is currently Technical Working Group co-chair for the Pan Prostate Cancer Group, and co-chair of the GA4GH Cancer Community.
Abstract:
Human omics is at a transformative point, where massive data volumes and increasing clinical relevance demand robust digital infrastructure. Through the NCRIS-funded GUARDIANS program, Bioplatforms Australia, Australian BioCommons and national partners are delivering a digital platform for molecular-based research at unprecedented scale and complexity.
Key elements of GUARDIANS include harmonised identity and access management, flagship research data commons, and platforms for data governance, sharing, and analytics across institutional boundaries. These services are enabling reproducible, secure, and FAIR-compliant use of key human omics data assets, informed by the ethical, legal and social implications of handling potentially sensitive human data.
GUARDIANS also addresses essential non-technical foundations including trust and identity, standards compliance, and sustainable data stewardship, without which the promise of technologies like AI and population-scale analysis cannot be safely or equitably realised. By embedding best practices in platform architecture, governance, and community-led standards, GUARDIANS is creating a reusable model for secure human omics data sharing and analytics appropriate for the Australian regulatory context.
In this talk we will demonstrate how GUARDIANS is implementing a step change in human omics data sharing and analysis. To set the scene we will describe the historical and international context of the program, outlining its major drivers and objectives. Then we will turn our attention to the governance and project management practices we have put in place to ensure successful delivery. Having established these foundations, we will proceed to outline the major outcomes of the program thus far. Finally, we will conclude with a discussion of future work within the next two years and then for the longer term. Along the way we will highlight touch points between GUARDIANS and the broader Australian digital research ecosystem.
