Getting Connected with caBIG®

Since its launch, the caBIG® initiative has created a virtual network of interconnected data, individuals, and organizations that work together to redefine how cancer research is conducted. Today, caBIG® connects the U.S. cancer community, including NCI-designated Cancer Centers, the NCI Community Cancer Center Program, NCI SPOREs, NCI Cooperative Groups, community care facilities, academic institutions, and commercial enterprises. "Getting Connected" with caBIG® means deploying caBIG® capabilities to support basic and clinical cancer research and enable cross-study integration and data sharing where appropriate.

Ways to Deploy caBIG®

• Adopt existing caBIG® software capabilities. Find caBIG® Tools
• Adapt existing software to be interoperable with caBIG® or to enable interoperability with other tools. Learn about caBIG® Compatibility
• Use biomedical terminologies, vocabularies, and software development kits maintained by caBIG® to manage and annotate data. Learn about caCORE
• Implement caGrid technology to connect multiple databases or facilitate making data from diverse legacy systems interoperable. Learn about caGrid
• Apply appropriate policies, procedures and protections to both define and govern the sharing of data. Learn about Data Sharing

Newcomer Resources

• caBIG® Essentials: This presentation is for organizations wishing to learn about and then connect with caBIG®. It provides an overview of the program, introduces caBIG® capabilities, describes different ways to connect with caBIG®, and points to support resources.
• caBIG® Resource Guide: This resource guide presents different scenarios that newcomers bring to caBIG®. Each scenario includes a list of resources available to meet these scenario needs, as well as summary lists of support resources.
• An Introduction to caGrid Technologies and Data Sharing: High-level overview of caGrid and its role in enabling data sharing. Developed for professionals who may oversee, plan or control data sharing.
• caBIG® Adapt Path: Resources and Support Fact Sheet: If you have a tool (either created in-house or by a vendor) that is not caBIG® compatible, you can adapt the tool to work towards interoperability. This fact sheet includes related resources and support options.
• Adapt Path Use Cases: Case studies on how organizations connecting with caBIG® have implemented the adapt path.
• Considerations for an Enterprise-Wide Semantic Infrastructure for Biomedical Information Management: White Paper outlining common challenges and needs in implementing an enterprise-level semantic infrastructure.
• NEW! A Practical Guide to caBIG® Integrative Query Tools: Educational guide that summarizes query tools available from caBIG® and provides a comparison matrix as to when and how each might be used.

Connecting with caBIG® Outreach Materials

The following presentations are for caBIG® deployment leads to use to communicate with others in their organization about different aspects of caBIG®.

• caBIG® Program Overview: General outreach presentation, serving as a quick overview of caBIG®, or as a model if you are giving a presentation about the program.
• caBIG® Deployment Overview: Brief overview of caBIG® mission and benefits, with an overview of the deployment steps, and a look across caBIG® capabilities (tools) and how they address biomedical needs in different domains.
• Building a caBIG® Project Team: Information on the types of stakeholders that will need to be engaged as part of a caBIG® deployment effort.
• caBIG® Support Options: Information about the Support options available from caBIG®.

Deployment Planning Documents

These documents were designed to help organizations plan for caBIG® deployment:

• The caBIG® Deployment Self-Assessment helps determine how caBIG® tools and infrastructure might be deployed to meet research needs. This assessment provides a means to match the capabilities, interests, and needs of the individual institution with the software and support available from caBIG®.
• The caBIG^® Goals Document helps you describe goals for deploying caBIG®. How well might caBIG® support clinical and research programs and goals? This is a template document provided to support formal cancer center deployment efforts in 2007-2008; however, it is a good model for anyone hoping to deploy caBIG®. See alsoGoals Overview Presentation.
• The caBIG® Implementation Plan Document helps you describe how you will implement caBIG® goals, leveraging caBIG® tools and infrastructure to become caBIG® compatible. This was a template document provided to support formal cancer center deployment efforts in 2007-2008; however, it is a good model for anyone hoping to deploy caBIG®. See alsoImplementation Plan Overview Presentation.