Date Submitted: 16-Jul-2024
Authors: Nicolas Triballeau (Galapagos) / Christian Baber (PA)
Problem Statement
The current ontologies available to support annotation of experiments and assays (BAO,AFO) don't suffice yet to enable experiment data interoperability and their reusability. In particular there is a need for a better model of the concept of measurement which lies at the core of experiments. In addition, the roles played by the different participants to an experiment need to be better defined and structured. The idea proposed here is to upgrade BAO in these regards thus enabling accurate (i.e., correct) interpretation of experimental results by both humans and machines.
Idea Proposal and Value Proposition
BAO is a widely used ontology which does not appear to have had a major update for around a decade despite a lot of work being done around the ontology. PA is well positioned to work with the original author(s) to update the ontology and make it fit for purpose for current scientific practice allowing early stage discovery scientists to document the results of their experiments in a FAIR manner.
Targeted Outputs
An updated, extensible, ontology capable of supporting experiments and their results, allowing data interoperability, aggregation (as appropriate) and reusability.
Critical Success Factors
Engagement of the BAO team as well as the groups working on related Pistoia Alliance topics such as Data FAIRy, In Vitro NAMs Data Standards and In Vitro Pharmacology projects.
Why this is a good idea / Why Now
The Pistoia Alliance has a number of other ongoing, and complete, projects touching on specific areas and this project provides an opportunity to build an overall framework around them capable of supporting both existing and upcoming science which has exceeded thecurrent level of development in the area.