Cloud Credits Pilot Program

The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) Cloud Credits Pilot Program was developed and implemented to enable researchers to conduct cloud-based analyses accessing Kids First data and utilizing the tools available through the Kids First Data Resource (DRC). This program is available to all researchers interested in using Kids First Data Resources. The program is powered by Kids First-supported investigators who collect and submit genomic data. The Kids First DRC receives source clinical data from each independent investigator, along with paired genomic sequencing produced by one of their sequencing centers partners and provides harmonized clinical and genomic datasets through its web platforms. The Kids First DRC processes each study dataset according to the same standard workflows, producing harmonized datasets which are directly comparable to one another, and facilitating cross-disease analyses.

The Kids First Data Resource Portal and the analysis tools within it allow users to query or search Kids First datasets, build virtual cohorts or collections of individual participants, identify genomic files for analysis, and search for variants common across Kids First studies. CAVATICA, built by Seven Bridges Genomics, allows users to analyze and visualize data using bioinformatics workflows and interactive analysis in a cloud-based environment.

For an introduction to Kids First, its platforms, and data process, we encourage you to watch the presentation from the 2023 Fall Webinar.

If you would like to participate in the Kids First Cloud Credits Pilot program, please send an email to KidsFirst@od.nih.gov with "Kids First Cloud Credits Pilot” in the subject line, and the Working Group will follow up with additional information. In your email, please describe:

• Which Kids First datasets you are interested in analyzing and whether you plan to crossanalyze Kids First data with other data. Please feel free to explore the data available through Kids First by logging into the Kids First Data Resource Portal. Please note that dbGaP approval is required for access to controlled-access (generally, individual-level genomic) data. Requesting dbGaP access requires a separate proposal and submission.
• Whether you have previously participated in earlier Kids First cloud credit pilots, either as an X01 or R03 investigator. In that case, please indicate whether this is a request for an additional allocation.
• What analyses you intend to do on the CAVATICA platform.
• If you are interested in working with the DRC on the variant workbench, please include “Variant Workbench” in the subject line for your request.

Cloud Credits are expected to be used within six months, and can be extended. If you are requesting a continuation those granted credits, please send an email to KidsFirst@od.nih.gov with “Kids First Cloud Credits Pilot Continuation” in the subject line, and the Working Group will follow up with you. In your email, please include:

• When you were granted credits, the project for which these were granted, and whether the continuation is to extend or expand this research.
• Whether you or anyone else in your research group have previously applied for credit continuation. If so, when the continuation was requested and whether the continuation was granted.
• Whether you are interested in sharing your work pipelines, workflows, and/or tools with other researchers in the scientific community.

If you would like additional information on cloud computing, with specific reference to Kids First, please see https://github.com/kids-first/kf-cloud-credits.

Please note that dbGaP approval is required for access to controlled-access (generally, individual-level genomic) data. Requesting dbGaP access requires a separate proposal and submission.

For a tutorial about dbGaP access, including Tips for developing a Data Access Request, please see https://github.com/kids-first/kf-cloud-credits/blob/main/ExploringDatasets.md.

A FAQ is available about data access: https://commonfund.nih.gov/kidsfirst/FAQ.