The transition from physical hardware to cloud computing can be challenging, especially when dealing with critical, complex biomedical systems and data.
To make the transition easier, the Center for Information Technology (CIT), in collaboration with the Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS), developed the STRIDES Initiative. STRIDES allows NIH researchers to access commercial cloud services, including state-of-the-art data storage and computational capabilities, as well as consultation and support services with experts in biomedical and data sciences, so that they can get up and running quickly and begin using the latest technologies to advance their work.
STRIDES Saves Time and Costs for Researchers
Through the STRIDES Initiative, CIT established partnerships with leading Cloud Service Providers, including Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure, to offer the research community a more secure, streamlined, and cost-efficient way to access commercial cloud computing services. The initiative also removes the burden of having to independently acquire commercial cloud services, which can be complicated, time-consuming, and costly.
CIT also takes ownership of certain administrative and technical responsibilities, like customer onboarding, training module development, and managing relationships with cloud providers. CIT’s ownership of these responsibilities allows researchers to spend their time focused on what matters most—the NIH mission.
STRIDES Creates Robust, Interconnected Ecosystems
Overall, STRIDES allows NIH staff and research partners to easily explore different cloud environments and begin creating robust, interconnected ecosystems. These ecosystems help break down silos related to generating, analyzing, and sharing research data, which fosters greater collaboration, innovation, and discovery.
Read more below about some of the ways STRIDES is enabling advancements in biomedical research both throughout the NIH and the country at large.
NIH Advanced Imaging and Microscopy Resource Explores Cloud for Imaging Research
The NIH Advanced Imaging and Microscopy (AIM) resource in Bethesda, MD, is enhancing its imaging research with cloud technology through the STRIDES Initiative.
By offering scalable computational resources, AIM supports NIH researchers in fields like ophthalmology and neuroscience, alleviating local capacity constraints, speeding up data analysis, and enabling concurrent studies.
The initiative also provides tools, training, and expertise for easier cloud adoption.
Looking ahead, AIM plans to expand access to its technology and establish cloud service standards, advancing medical imaging research.
NIH Cloud Lab Helps Researchers Explore Commercial Cloud Services at No Cost
A major driver behind NIH staff and researchers joining the STRIDES community is the NIH Cloud Lab, a no-cost, 90-day program that helps researchers explore and use commercial cloud services within a secure, NIH-approved environment. Participants receive up to $500 in cloud credits, access to AI, bioinformatics, and data science tutorials, and support from experts to rapidly build cloud research skills. This hands-on, low-risk program allows researchers to create proof-of-concept solutions, estimate workflow costs, and improve cloud competency.
Recently, CIT collaborated with the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to develop the NIGMS Sandbox, a collection of learning modules on utilizing cloud technology for life sciences and biomedical research. These modules, now publicly available on NIH GitHub, were featured in Briefings in Bioinformatics, marking a significant achievement. NIH staff, grantees, and affiliated researchers can access these modules and request cloud credits through the NIH Cloud Lab at no cost.
Expanding Access to TOPMed Genomics Data Through Cloud Services
The University of Michigan, as part of the NHLBI's Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program, leveraged the NIH STRIDES Initiative to transition its extensive genomic data to the cloud. The transition to cloud infrastructure through STRIDES enhanced the management, analysis, and accessibility of large genomic datasets, enabling efficient processing and collaboration. This shift accelerated research timelines and advanced the University's precision medicine efforts, supporting personalized treatments and deepening scientific understanding of complex diseases.
University of Washington’s TOPMed Program Boosts Collaboration with the Help of the Cloud
Since 2014, the University of Washington's Genetic Analysis Center (GAC) has used cloud services through the NIH STRIDES Initiative to enhance the analysis and sharing of whole genome sequencing (WGS) data within the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. Through this partnership, GAC has improved collaboration among TOPMed's 32 working groups, 80 studies, and 1,000+ investigators by providing scalable resources, democratizing data access, and reducing equipment costs. STRIDES support and favorable pricing have facilitated a smooth transition, and the GAC plans to integrate additional omics data into the cloud as it advances towards TOPMed 2.0.
Are you interested in STRIDES?
Please feel free to reach out to us at STRIDES@nih.gov and cloudlab@nih.gov with any questions or to set up a cloud consultation.