BioMedBridges: Mapping and registry of biomedical science research infrastructure standards

The development of a prototype data model registry is the objective of BioMedBridges Deliverable 3.2, with contributions from project partners and in collaboration with BBMRI. The overall aim is to promote FAIR principles for data (Find, Access, Integrate and Reuse), therefore the Meta Models and Mappings Registry is designed to make it easier for researchers, data stewards and tools producers to find, compare, and choose existing data models, formats, and guidelines, and in particular to promote the use of (de facto) standards. In contrast to currently fragmented resources where users typically need to manually explore very technical documentation, the Meta Models and Mappings Registry we have delivered, referred to throughout this document as the MMMR or simply as ‘the registry’, can quickly shortlist suitable data elements, entities and models using a simple Google-like search. The registry currently catalogues a representative collection of meta-data artefacts (models, formats, minimal information guidelines, biobank data dictionaries, detailed clinical/research models) of use to RIs/communities within BioMedBridges. Next to the description of model entities and attributes, the registry includes provenance details, links to relevant publications and key contact information. To achieve the objectives, it was necessary to develop a minimum information model to describe meta-models, building on existing open source standards and software as well as (meta) data cataloguing efforts in BBMRI. The registry content and software are open access and open source in order to further facilitate reuse and community participation. In the following report we summarise technical progress and outcomes of our work.