Sustainability During Instability: Long-Lived Life Science Databases and Science Funding Outlook in the United States
For many years, life science researchers have enjoyed free, open access to a wide range of online databases that make data sharing and reuse possible. But even long-established resources have always faced sustainability challenges and recent changes in U.S. science funding are making things even tougher. This presentation covers a study recently posted to bioRxiv which took a multiple mini–case study approach to document potential impacts for nine long-standing databases, including BHL, MorphoBank, OMIM, ORDB, rrnDB, VEuPathDB, WormAtlas, and two that preferred to remain anonymous. The results point to growing barriers to data access, a loss of valuable expertise, and disruptions to ongoing and future research. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of sustainability models given the current funding climate.
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