Bioinformatics Integration for Cancer Research-Goal Question analysis

The PRM (Platform Reference Model) project proposes a model that enables cancer researchers to systematically access and use existing bioinformatics repositories.. Currently, there are many bioinformatics resources and standards both in the UK and internationally that are excellent research tools, but they have evolved separately and so present an incoherent and fragmented landscape. The Platform will provide access to an organised collection of informatics resources (applications and databases) for the acquisition, storage and use of data across the whole spectrum of cancer research. This paper will focus on the requirements analysis process, aiming to understand the underlying concept of bioinformatics integration from a research goal-question viewpoint. Modeling a cancer research via research goal-question enables a planned collection of bioinformatics data along with a systematic approach of analyzing the reports answers to the research questions and goals.