MetaServe: a lightweight, metadata-aware governance and delivery layer for pre-publication research omics data

Area of Science:

• Genomics and Bioinformatics
• Data Management and Governance
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Research institutions manage diverse pre-publication omics datasets with complex file types and structures.
• Existing solutions like public repositories (post-publication) and enterprise platforms lack lightweight governance for internal assets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce MetaServe, an open-source governance and delivery layer for institutional pre-publication multi-omics data.
• To enable structured discovery and controlled delivery of heterogeneous research assets.

Main Methods:

• MetaServe registers and delivers various omics assets (sequencing files, imaging, tabular data, etc.) without strict standardization.
• Employs metadata-aware design with file-type recognition, annotation, and faceted retrieval.
• Supports authenticated downloads, integration with analysis tools (e.g., cellxgene), and workflow exports.

Main Results:

• MetaServe provides a practical layer for pre-publication research data between institutional storage and analytical platforms.
• Implements role-based access, file-level sharing, and path-constrained delivery for controlled institutional access.
• Successfully deployed at the Chinese Institutes for Medical Research (CIMR) for multi-omics data management.

Conclusions:

• MetaServe integrates lightweight metadata registration, permission-aware retrieval, and controlled delivery for heterogeneous omics assets.
• Offers a deployable governance solution for core facilities and research teams needing structured discovery and traceable delivery.
• Complements, rather than replaces, existing workflow engines, repositories, or large-scale data platforms.