Welcome
A new Version of the NDAR Portal is Available! NDAR's new capabilities are described
below.
Welcome to the National Database for Autism Research (NDAR), a bioinformatics platform for data and tools related to research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NDAR’s objectives are to:
- Facilitate data sharing and scientific collaboration;
- Provide bioinformatics solutions to address communitywide needs and;
- Provide a common platform for the effective communication of detailed research data, tools, and information.
NDAR hosts genetic, imaging, and phenotypic research data relevant to autism, making these data available to qualified researchers.
NDAR also has the capability to let investigators use NDAR as a space in which to share data with select collaborators in ongoing studies.
Through its Data Dictionary, NDAR will foster the development of a shared, common understanding of the complex data-landscape that
characterizes autism research. Finally, its architecture facilitates linkage of NDAR with other significant data resources, regardless
of their location or ownership and in ways that respect the policies and implementations of those other data resources.
As these, and other, features are used over time, NDAR is expected to become a portal to the autism research community for the autism
research community. Visit
About NDAR for more information on NDAR's goals and objectives.
Contributing to NDAR
NDAR accepts ASD-relevant research data from all qualified researchers, regardless of the funding source.
For those investigators considering contributions to NDAR, review:
- Submission Planning for an overview of the issues an investigator should consider prior to contributing to NDAR.
- Data Definition on the data types and formats NDAR accepts.
- Data Sharing for an overview of the extensive data sharing and communication capabilities now available when using NDAR.
Plan on attending one of the
NDAR Webinars. See schedule
below.
Accessing NDAR
NDAR began receiving behavioral and diagnostic data in July of 2008. Broad investigator access to these initial submissions is currently unavailable.
However, the procedures to request access to these data, when they become available, as well as to receive access to data made available through NDAR’s
Ongoing Study capability are provided.
Visit Accessing NDAR for details on what is needed to access resources in NDAR.
Plan on attending one of the
NDAR Webinars. See schedule
below.
Webinar Demonstration Schedule
| NDAR Overview (75 minutes) |
|---|
|
As indicated in a the March 19th, 2009 Notice in the NIH Guide, all ASD researchers are strongly encouraged to share their data using NDAR (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MH-09-005.html). To support this
announcement, NDAR has scheduled bimonthly webinars, through August of 2009. These sessions focus on all aspects of NDAR, including data submission, data definition, and how NDAR can be used to communicate research results with other researchers. Also, the NDAR policies associated with data sharing and Ongoing Study Access are
addressed. We often tailor the sessions to those that are on the call.
These sessions are scheduled for 75 minutes.
|
NDAR Version 2.1 Capabilities and Release Notes
On June 5th, NDAR version 2.1 became available. Version 2.1 capabilities include:
- Validation Tool - The NDAR Validation Tool has been updated to convert tabular data to XML, allowing researchers to provide NDAR either tab/comma delimited files or the NDAR CDISC XML data submission standard.
- Updated Data Dictionary - The NDAR Data Dictionary has been updated to include specific guidance on what data dictionary elements are
required, recommended or optional. Additionally, descriptions and range values have been updated. The guidance on the data dictionary elements was provided by the
NDAR Data Dictionary Special Interest Group (SIG), which meets monthly. Visit Contact Us if you would like to become involved.
- Query Tool - The NDAR Query Tool supports the direct download of imaging/genetics files within the Query Tool results. NDAR is working to support multiple file downloads in a future
version.
- Online Help - NDAR Online Help is provided throughout the NDAR Portal. Refer to the Help Table of Contents to see the online help that is now available
- My Profile - NDAR has updated its accounts management and permissions in support of NDAR Policy and Procedures. Agreements, NDAR related requests, and other documents are now submitted to
"My Profile". From there, approved documents may then be associated with a Collection. This allows NDAR users to provide one version of a document, and once approved, associate it with a Collection. Furthermore, it allows
NDAR to support separate policies associated with federated data resources.
- FIT Tool - Preliminary Design work has been completed on the Field Integration Tool (FIT). The FIT Tool will be an online tool allowing the field to define and extend the NDAR Data Dictionary. The first version of this tool is scheduled for completion
in September of 2009
For more detail see: Version 2.1 Release Notes
