A decentralized FAIR platform to facilitate data sharing in the life sciences

TL;DR

This paper introduces a decentralized, user-friendly platform designed for collaborative research in life sciences, ensuring FAIR data principles through blockchain-based metadata control and version tracking to enhance sharing, coordination, and research quality.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel decentralized platform integrating blockchain technology for metadata quality control and version management to facilitate FAIR-compliant data sharing in life sciences.

Findings

Improves collaboration efficiency in research teams.

Ensures FAIR data principles through blockchain-based metadata control.

Provides a version control system for research project tracking.

Abstract

The Hybrid Technology Hub and many other research centers work in cross-functional teams whose workflow is not necessarily linear and where in many cases technology advances are done through parallel work. The lack of proper tools and platforms for a collaborative environment can create time lags in coordination and limited sharing of research findings. To solve this, we have developed a simple, user-friendly platform built for academic and scientific research collaboration. To ensure FAIRness compliance, the platform consists of a metadata quality control based on blockchain technologies. The data is stored separately in a distributed object storage that functions as a cloud. The platform also implements a version control system; it provides a history track of the project along with the possibility of reviewing the project's development. This platform aims to be a standardized tool within the Hybrid Technology Hub to ease collaboration, speed research workflow and improve research quality.