MINDDS-connect: a federated data platform integrating biobanks for meta cohort building and analysis

Huremagic, Benjamin, Sattanathan, Nishkala, Geysens, Mathilde, Harwood, Janet, Verbesselt, Jente, Meynants, Senne, Swillen, Ann, Van Den Bogaert, Kris, Drakulic, Danijela, Cuturilo, Goran, van Amelsvoort, Thérèse, Linden, David, Oliva-Teles, Natália, Jorge, Paula, van den Bree, Marianne B. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4426-3254, Hall, Jessica H., Chizari, Haleh, Ardeshirdavani, Amin, Harwood, Adrian J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3124-5169, Vandeweyer, Geert, Moreau, Yves and Vermeesch, Joris Robert 2025. MINDDS-connect: a federated data platform integrating biobanks for meta cohort building and analysis. European Journal of Human Genetics 10.1038/s41431-025-01927-5

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB)

Abstract

Access to large patient cohort data and biobanked resources is a catalyst for progress in genomics and biomedical research, increasing statistical power, and unlocking deeper insights—especially in areas like rare diseases and mental health. Responsible research necessitates maintenance of data privacy, regulatory compliance, and research standardization. It can appear that these guiding principles oppose each other and present barriers to responsible Open science. To address these critical challenges, we developed MINDDS-Connect, a federated data collaboration platform that integrates a web-based interface with decentralized Docker instances via a REST API. This architecture allows registered users to securely query samples across the platform’s network, and offers a tool to facilitate the formation of virtual multi-centric meta-cohorts and research collaboration. MINDDS-Connect allows institutions to retain data control while enabling collaborative research and meta-cohort analysis through standardized metadata fields. Its implementation across five European centers enhanced the accessibility of 900 samples, demonstrating its effectiveness in enabling cohort construction and promoting collaborative research. The platform provides a secure, open-source solution consistent with EU Open Science policies, advancing large-scale mental health research.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Medicine Schools > Biosciences Research Institutes & Centres > Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC)
Publisher:	Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
ISSN:	1018-4813
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	3 September 2025
Date of Acceptance:	30 July 2025
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2025 10:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/180860

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item