outGRID · A WORLDWIDE E-INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENTISTS (outGRID)

FP7 neuGRID (www.neuGRID.eu) is being developed aiming to provide large sets of brain images paired with grid-based computationally intensive algorithms for studies of neurodegenerative diseases. Two infrastructures with similar aims are operational or under construction overseas. In Canada, the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) aims to develop a pan-Canadian platform (CBRAIN http://cbrain.mcgill.ca) for exchange and distributed processing of 3D/4D brain imaging data. In the US, the LONI – Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at UCLA (http://www.LONI.ucla.edu) already provides a number of algorithm pipelines to perform a wide range of brain image analyses that come with an intelligent and interactive distributed visual programming environment.These three complementary neuroscience initiatives could converge to one unique worldwide facility, given the following enablers: (i) the databasing software of neuGRID is the same as CBRAIN's, (ii) an ultra broad band connection links Europe to Canada (GTRN), and (iii) both platforms are under construction, thus providing latitude for channelling towards interoperability. Interoperability of neuGRID with LONI is facilitated by (i) the database structure of neuGRID being the same of LONI, i.e. that of the North American Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), (ii) an ultra broad band connection links Europe to US (GTRN) and (iii) neuGRID may adopt LONI's workflow authoring system for algorithm pipelining.outGRID will organize workshops in Europe, Canada, and the US to promote the exchange of technical information, direct the development of the infrastructures towards interoperability, and develop specific international calls and call topics for research and development activities aimed at achieving full interoperability. outGRID will be a first step toward a global scientific grid infrastructure, it will trigger convergence within the neuroscientific community and, in the long run, the biomedical research community.