Report from the 2016 CrossConnects workshop: improving data mobility & management for bioinformatics

Due to significant declines in the price of genome sequencing technology, the bioinformatics sciences are experiencing a massive upswing in data generation resulting in an increasing need for data distribution and access. The sheer number of biological areas of study, many of which benefit from the scientific breakthroughs of one another, are adding to the increase of shared data usage. The need for effective data management, analysis, and access are becoming more critical. While there are commonalities facing both precision medicine and metagenomics, each area has its own unique challenges and needs. A workshop was held in April 2016 at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that brought together scientists from both fields, along with experts in computing and networking. Presenters and attendees discussed current research and pressing data issues facing the bioinformatics field today and in the near future.