The International Human Epigenome Consortium Data Portal

Area of Science:

• Epigenomics
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• The International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC) aims to create comprehensive reference epigenome maps.
• Characterizing the regulome, methylome, and transcriptome requires standardized data.
• Integrating data from diverse international consortia presents a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish data conventions for compatibility and integration.
• To develop an infrastructure for accessing and analyzing epigenomics data.
• To create a unified portal for IHEC datasets.

Main Methods:

• Development of the IHEC Data Portal (http://epigenomesportal.ca/ihec).
• Implementation of data standards for epigenomic datasets.
• Integration of data from seven international research consortia.

Main Results:

• The IHEC Data Portal provides access to over 7,000 reference epigenomic datasets.
• Datasets originate from more than 600 tissues and cell types.
• The portal facilitates discovery, visualization, analysis, download, and sharing of epigenomics data.

Conclusions:

• The IHEC Data Portal serves as the official source for navigating IHEC datasets.
• It represents a unified strategy for managing distributed epigenomics data.
• The portal enhances the utility and accessibility of reference epigenome maps.