Latest Research Developments at D³b – Spring 2021
Recently shared with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, the Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D3b) has compiled a report on its most significant achievements from the past year, encompassing newest collaborations, research projects, platform development, and more. Below, we’ve prepared a brief snapshot of these accomplishments.
Over the past 12 months, D3b has supported 30 CHOP researchers throughout multiple departments and divisions on over 40 different research projects. Additionally, the Center collaborated with over 150 CHOP researchers in more than 50 publications during this period.
During this reporting period, D3b developed new analytic tools including the Kids First Variant Workbench; reached 20 studies released through dbGaP; streamlined the clinical data review process; developed a new process to ingest and release clinical and genomic data; hardened and improved genomics harmonization process over 5,000 additional whole genome sequences (WGS), more than 12,000 whole exome sequences (WES), and 32 RNA sequences; improved the bioinformatics pipeline development and support process; and supported two CHOP investigators on their successful X01 grant application and collaborations within the NIH Common Fund-supported Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program.
D3b manages 11 biobanks and four multi-site consortia representing over 50 national and international sites. Over the past year, the Center has accrued 11,743 total subjects, an increase of 2,289 (24.2%) since FY20. All told, there are now 98,062 individuals specimens (Aliquots) available across all D3b-managed biobanks; an increase of 4,399 (4.7%) from FY20.
On-going research highlights include:
- Launched the Neuroscience Initiative in collaboration with Neurology, Neurosurgery and the D3b Center in response to CHOP’s long term strategy
- 12 translational findings leading to clinical trials
- More than 2 petabytes of pediatric genomic data generated and 1.2 petabytes publicly available
- More than 100 Cell lines created, 59 cell lines and 6 PDX ready to be shared, with 30 cell lines requests approved
- More than 90,000 biospecimens with 51 requests approved
- More than 40 institutional partners
- More than 60 foundation partners
- More than 50 research projects and 15 programs at CHOP
- More than 70 research projects with collaborating researchers
- More than 3 Global data platforms launched
During this period, in collaboration with more than 600 internal and external investigators from other national and international institutions, D3b had 75 publications and 5 abstracts accepted, and 5 awaiting approval in 51 different journals. Highlighting the translational work of the Center, the research topics span basic research, bioinformatics, and clinical research. Additionally, D³b directors and staff were invited to either present, participate, or chair 21 conferences within this reporting period. Center team members received 3 awards and recognitions, and D3b’s research accomplishments were highlighted in at least nine news publications.
Finally, D3b’s Co-Director, Dr. Adam Resnick, had the distinction of being listed as the third highest NIH grant awardee at CHOP during the last three years from 2017-2020, and in 2020 was the fourth highest awardee in the US in the area of Neurosurgery research. He is also a high contributor to CHOP’s 16th place during 2020 in comparison with other national institutions.