BioCompute Spring Workshop 2024

This hybrid workshop provides an opportunity to learn about BioCompute Objects and interoperability between 3 platforms that host BioCompute Objects. It will also cover BCODB and Portal at the FDA, real-world applications, and potential AL/ML-related BCO implementations. We encourage everyone to attend in person for hands-on experience.

Date & Time: May 10th, 2024, 8 AM - 5 PM

Location: Great Room, White Oak Campus, FDA center

Event Registration: Eventbrite

Getting there:

By Car

Enter "FDA Building 1" in Google Maps, then follow NW Loop Rd to the closest visitor parking, once reach the T-section turn right onto Michelson Rd to vehicle security screening before parking on the White Oak campus. FDA circulator shuttles are available between visitor parking and Building 1. Refer to the FDA website for the campus map.

By metro Public buses:

• Ride On Bus Route 22 - stops at the Silver Spring (Red line) Metro station
• BRT Flash Orange Route - stops at the Silver Spring (Red line) Metro station
• Metro Bus C8 - stops at the White Flint (Red line), Glenmont (Red Line), and College Park (Green line) Metro stations
• Metro Bus K6 - stops at the Fort Totten (Red, Green, and Yellow lines) Metro station
• Metro Bus K9 - stops at the Fort Totten (Red, Green, and Yellow lines) Metro station

FDA shuttle to metro:

• College Park Metro (Green line)
• Glenmont Metro (Red line)
• Medical Center Metro (Red line)
• Shady Grove Metro (Red line)
• Silver Spring Metro (Red line)
• Twinbrook Metro (Red line)

Please go to the FDA site for more transportation options.

Abstract

Documenting computational workflows has historically been a challenge for researchers and reviewers. Often, there are no clear guidelines for describing these workflows, leading to ad hoc definitions and descriptions that are insufficient for comprehension and reproducibility. BioCompute, an abbreviation for the IEEE standard 2791-2020, offers a structured framework for precisely yet adaptable describing workflows. A BioCompute Object (BCO) represents a workflow that adheres to this standard. This standard breaks down a workflow into its core components, aligning them with established data standards and ontologies. BioCompute significantly aids in streamlining workflow data, managing complexity across multiple versions, and enhancing reproducibility.

As the field evolves, addressing regulatory concerns becomes paramount, necessitating a common language for all stakeholders. The BioCompute community, comprised of over 400 individuals, has crafted a framework that offers guidance without imposing undue burdens on sponsors or reviewers. To date, BCO has been embraced by three FDA centers, effectively reducing delays in regulatory submissions. An ongoing pilot project involving the BioCompute team, FDA, and industry sponsors aims to improve communication efficiency and fluidity during submission and review processes.

The BioCompute Portal, the central platform for creating and submitting BCOs, has seen significant improvements in the past year, including Google and ORCID integration and an enhanced user interface. Furthermore, a new Portal instance at the FDA, along with four tools for authoring BCOs directly from various platforms (BCOnexus, Seven Bridges APP, the HIVE, and Galaxy platforms), and expanded documentation, make it easier to create, share, edit, and publish BCOs online. In addition, the FDA can retrieve BCOs from the public BCODB upon request, and with APIs and authentication tokens, users can directly submit to FDA portal API endpoints and interact with BCOs and their implementations seamlessly. All of the most up-to-date information about BioCompute will be introduced at the workshop and followed by a roundtable discussion to further improve the applicability of BioCompute from the FDA point of view and industry-wise.

Organization Committee

TBD

Workshop Topics

• Updates on BioComput
• BCO Portal at the FDA
• Platform interoperability,
• Exemplar workflows and real-world applications
• BCO-Nextflow
• AI/ML-related implementations
• FAQ session & Roundtable discussion

Schedule

TBD

Confirmed Presenters

Jonathon Keeney - The George Washington University (GWU)

Charles Hadley King - The George Washington University (GWU)

Omar Serang - DNAnexus

Sam Westreich - DNAnexus

Dennis A. Dean, II - Velsera

Phil Webster- Velsera