The COVID-19 Data Portal: accelerating SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 research through rapid open access data sharing

Area of Science:

• * Bioinformatics
• * Data Science
• * Public Health

Background:

• * The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has had profound global impacts.
• * A coordinated, worldwide scientific research effort is crucial for understanding and combating the virus.
• * The need for rapid and open data sharing is paramount in addressing the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To introduce the COVID-19 Data Portal as a key resource for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 research.
• * To highlight the portal's role in facilitating rapid data sharing and analysis.
• * To emphasize the portal's commitment to continuous improvement based on user feedback.

Main Methods:

• * Development and release of the COVID-19 Data Portal as part of the European COVID-19 Data Platform.
• * Implementation of fortnightly feature releases to incorporate new data types, search functionalities, and visualizations.
• * Provision of open datasets and services for data search, identification, and download.

Main Results:

• * The COVID-19 Data Portal provides a comprehensive and accessible resource for researchers.
• * The portal adheres to FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
• * Researchers can efficiently identify and access critical datasets for their COVID-19 studies.

Conclusions:

• * The COVID-19 Data Portal is an essential tool for accelerating global research on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
• * Its open and FAIR data approach supports collaborative scientific endeavors.
• * Continuous updates ensure the portal remains a valuable and evolving resource for the research community.