Adopting Ontologies: Sustainable Research Reusing the Biomedical Resource Ontology

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Informatics
• Data Science
• Scientific Research

Background:

• The FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability) are crucial for sustainable data use in science.
• Ontologies are essential tools for enhancing data interoperability and reusability.
• Existing ontologies can become outdated or redundant, posing challenges to their continued application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the adoption and adaptation of existing ontologies.
• To demonstrate the value of this approach through a case study.
• To promote a culture of knowledge maintenance for scientific data.

Main Methods:

• Review of the FAIR principles and the role of ontologies.
• Case study analysis of the Biomedical Resource Ontology (BRO).
• Discussion on the process and benefits of ontology adaptation.

Main Results:

• Adopting and adapting existing ontologies is a viable strategy for maintaining data interoperability.
• The Biomedical Resource Ontology (BRO) case study illustrates the practical application and benefits of this approach.
• A proactive culture of knowledge maintenance is necessary for long-term data sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Adapting existing ontologies, though time-consuming, is essential for upholding FAIR data principles.
• Knowledge maintenance ensures ontologies remain relevant and support sustainable scientific research.
• This approach enhances the overall FAIRness and reusability of scientific data.