caNanoLab: enhancing retrieval and sharing of cancer nanotechnology data

The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer Nanotechnology Laboratory ( caNanoLab ) data portal is an online nanomaterial database that allows users to submit and retrieve information on well-characterized nanomaterials used in biomedicine, including composition, in vitro and in vivo experimental characterizations, experimental protocols, and related publications. Currently, more than 1,100 curated nanomaterial records are publicly accessible and can be queried directly from the caNanoLab homepage. The primary customers of the data are the cancer nanotechnology research community including clinicians and the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer. However, the content of caNanoLab is relevant to the broader biomedical research field with interests in the use of nanotechnology for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics. The database structure is based on characterization assays required for clinical regulatory review performed by the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) and the Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNEs) in the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer. The caNanoLab data model was informed by standards such as the NanoParticle Ontology ( NPO ) and ISA-TAB . Class names and attributes are maintained in the NCI cancer Data Standards Repository ( caDSR ) and definitions for caNanoLab concepts are maintained in the NCI Thesaurus . The curation of nanotechnology information is accomplished by selecting relevant publications, manually extracting reported text and data, and submitting extracted information into caNanoLab. Curated caNanoLab data are converted to ISA-TAB-Nano files to enable data exchange between individual users or other databases, which is an interest of the caNanoLab team, along with participation in activities focused on the development of standards enabling data exchange and supporting interoperability between databases. The caNanoLab team is also engaged in many activities to better serve the needs of the nanotechnology research community. Activities range from engaging publication vendors to facilitate linkages between publications and nanotechnology databases, to working with other groups to develop data standards and guidelines for data submission and sharing including community-based programs such as the NCI Nanotechnology Working Group ( Nano WG ) and the National Nanotechnology Initiative ( NNI ) a federal initiative to develop data standards and deposition guidelines.