Annual Report 2023
Section of Data Science Strategy
Takashi Yugawa, Hirokazu Fukuda, Katsuya Tsuchihara, Genta Ohno, Kaori Muto, Akiko Nagai, Yuuta Maruki, Misaki Ogawa
The Team and What We Do
Regarding comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) tests that are performed for cancer patients under national health insurance in Japan, we promote the primary and secondary utilization of those genomic and clinical data collected at the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT) through various data-sharing systems (Figure 1). We perform the following tasks to contribute to the support and development of cancer genomic medicine (CGM):
1) Modification and operation of the “C-CAT Medical-Use Portal” to support medical treatment at the CGM hospitals.
2) Modification and operation of the “C-CAT Research-Use Portal” for academic research and development of pharmaceuticals, etc.
3) Construction of an additional cloud-based system, “C-CAT CALICO (CALculation & Investigation ClOud)”, which enables users to analyze raw sequence data to examine novel genetic alterations that are not included in the reports provided by the registered testing companies.
4) Secretariat management of the C-CAT Data Utilization Review Board to examine the suitability of applications for secondary utilization.
5) Administrative procedures related to contracts and applications for changes and extensions, as well as management of research projects.
6) Public relations activities about CGM and CGP tests for patients and the general public.
Figure 1. Medical and Research Use of C-CAT “Real World Data”
Research Activities
- The system was modified to improve the search capability and operability of the “C-CAT Medical-Use Portal” to ensure stable operation.
- The C-CAT data user questionnaire was conducted to improve the accuracy of the accumulated data and the portal functions, and to understand the user needs of the “C-CAT Research-Use Portal”. In addition, as a first attempt, the user meeting was held, where users presented their results and a panel discussion was held based on the results of the user questionnaire, in order to contribute to the revitalization of data utilization in cooperation with users.
- In FY2023, the C-CAT Data Utilization Review Board were held five times, and 43 new applications from academic and industrial institutions in Japan (including Japanese branches of foreign pharmaceutical companies) were approved to utilize the C-CAT data. We concluded a contract regarding the licensed assignment, and use of the “C-CAT Research-Use Portal” was started. Additionally, three applications for research plan change were consulted and approved for continuous data utilization by the C-CAT Data Utilization Review Board.
- In addition to building the system based on security requirements for the “C-CAT CALICO”, details on how to apply for use, usage fees, etc. were decided, and a user briefing was held for existing utilization search portal users to put it into operation.
- The content of the website “CGM and CGP tests” for patients and the general public was updated and publicity activities via X (formerly Twitter) were continued to widely disseminate information on CGM, C-CAT initiatives and data registration status, etc.
Education
We have worked to develop human resources in this field by giving lectures on CGM and the role of C-CAT at scientific conferences, as well as hosting tours from academic and medical institutes in Japan and overseas.
Future Prospects
We aim to further increase the number of users through data expansion and system updates to ensure the usefulness of the search portal and cloud system, leading to the creation of new medicine. To provide C-CAT data overseas, contractual issues relating to the handling of personal data requiring special attention are to be sorted out and finalized for both system and operational aspects. We will also enhance the content of the website and X about C-CAT initiatives to promote social penetration.