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Data Sharing

Data sharing is essential to scientific progress. NCI has engaged in developing effective data sharing practices and built the caNanoLab database. 

caNanoLab is a data sharing portal designed to facilitate information sharing across the biomedical nanotechnology research community to expedite and validate the use of nanotechnology in biomedicine. caNanoLab provides support for the annotation of nanomaterials with characterizations resulting from physico-chemical, in vitro and in vivo assays and the sharing of these characterizations and associated nanotechnology protocols in a secure fashion. 

Please refer to the new Data Management and Sharing (DMS) policy that the NIH has issued, effective January 25, 2023, to promote the sharing of scientific data.

Data Sharing Tools

Cancer Nanotechnology Laboratory (caNanoLab) Data Portal
The caNanoLab is a web portal designed to facilitate sharing of well–characterized biomedical nanomaterial data in the research community.

Nanomaterial Registry
The Nanomaterial Registry is a free web-based resource launched by Research Triangle Institute International, organizes and evaluates the biological and environmental implications of well-characterized nanomaterials from publicly available resources.

National Cancer Informatics Program Nanotechnology Working Group (NCIP Nano WG)
The NCIP Nano WG was established to work closely with the nanotechnology research community to develop and encourage adoption of a shared informatics infrastructure that describes the physicochemical properties, biological interactions, and environmental interactions of nanomaterials. The NCIP Nano WG is comprised of over 20 active participants from academia, government and industry.

caNanoLab and Data Sharing Updates

caNanoLab 3.0 launched enhancements to improve usability – learn more about planned enhancements on caNanoLab Release Notes and provide feedback on the caNanoLab Usability Discussion Forum. August 2022

caNanoLab 2.4 launched enhancements to improve usability – learn more about planned enhancements on caNanoLab Release Notes and provide feedback on the caNanoLab Usability Discussion Forum. 
December 2021 

caNanoLab 2.0 launched with enhancements to improve usability-learn more about planned enhancements and provide feedback on the caNanoLab Usability Discussion Forum
December 2014

The Nanomaterial Registry and caNanoLab were highlighted as comprehensive NIH nanotechnology public repositories in Nature Nanotechnology article on checklist for life sciences "Joining the reproducibility initiative."
December 2014

caNanoLab provides nanomaterial research text for Data Sharing Plans applicable to NIH research grant applications
September 2014

caNanoLab is listed as a recommended data repository for Scientific Data, a new online journal launched by Nature's publishers that issues peer–reviewed descriptions of scientifically valuable datasets
May 2014

The Nanomaterial Registry provides text for Data Management Plans applicable to NIH or NSF research grant applications
May 2014

Data Sharing Publications

Trends and patterns in cancer nanotechnology research: A survey of NCI's caNanoLab and nanotechnology characterization laboratory.
Ke W, Crist RM, Clogston JD, Stern ST, Dobrovolskaia MA, Grodzinski P, Jensen MA. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2022 Dec;191:114591

Merging data curation and machine learning to improve nanomedicines.
Chen C, Yaari Z, Apfelbaum E, Grodzinski P, Shamay Y, Heller DA. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2022 Apr;183:114172

Nanocuration workflows: Establishing best practices for identifying, inputting, and sharing data to inform decisions on nanomaterials
Powers et al, Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 2015, Sep 4;6:1860-71

The Nanomaterial Data Curation Initiative: A collaborative approach to assessing, evaluating, and advancing the state of the field
Hendren et al, Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 2015, Aug 18;6:1752-62

Experiences in supporting the structured collection of cancer nanotechnology data using caNanoLab
Morris et al, Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 2015, Jul 21;6:1580-93

Nanoinformatics: emerging databases and available tools.
Panneerselvam S, Choi S. Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Apr 25;15(5):7158-82. 

caNanoLab: data sharing to expedite the use of nanotechnology in biomedicine
Sharon Gaheen et al, Computational Science & Discovery, 2013, 6 014010

The Nanomaterial Registry: facilitating the sharing and analysis of data in the diverse nanomaterial community
Ostraat ML et al, International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013:8 (Suppl 1) 7-13.

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