The Global Biodata Coalition announces the publication of a groundbreaking White Paper, Working Cooperatively for Global Biodata Resource Sustainability, that sets out an approach to collective action to enhance the sustainability of biodata resources worldwide. These resources underpin life sciences and biomedical research, but fragmented and uncoordinated funding threatens their long-term viability.
The White Paper identifies nine foundational principles for cooperative funding models, emphasising collective responsibility among life science research funders of all types to sustain essential biodata infrastructure. It also highlights the need to explore new funding mechanisms, including pooled and distributed service models, and advocates for global coordination to ensure equitable and effective resource management.
The GBC has developed this White Paper to address urgent challenges to safeguarding life sciences data, as the volume of open access data increases exponentially and with rapidly growing demand from AI and other data intensive-science approaches. Biodata resources are essential tools enabling research and innovation, yet they often face unstable funding, making it difficult to plan for the long-term or meet the demands of a global user base.
The White Paper builds on the efforts of the GBC Board Working Group on Sustainability and incorporates insights from an open consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. “For the first time, this paper lays out collective views on how the world should approach the biodata infrastructure sustainability challenge,” said Dr Guy Cochrane, Executive Director of the Global Biodata Coalition, adding “We are deeply grateful to the GBC Board of Funders’ Working Group and to everyone who contributed their expertise and perspectives through the consultation process.”
The principles outlined in the White Paper call for equitable contributions from funders, flexible models tailored to funder capabilities, and governance structures that align with funders’ and hosting institutions’ interests. The paper also prioritises open and FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data practices, balancing openness with necessary safeguards.
The publication marks a significant step in fostering global collaboration to sustain biodata resources. GBC intends to use the White Paper to stimulate dialogue among research funders, policymakers, and resource managers and to catalyse action at national, regional, and global levels.
“This is a call to action,” added Professor Warwick Anderson, Chairman of the GBC’s Board, “The sustainability of the global biodata infrastructure is a shared responsibility. Funders, scientists and data experts must work together to build a resilient system that supports life sciences research and delivers benefits to society worldwide.”
For more information see the White Paper.