Abstract A15: Development of a cloud-based histology database for collaborative cancer research

Abstract

Abstract Background. HistoWiz is a histology company that process cancer research tissue samples and digitizes the resulting glass slides for scientists. This process produces a “virtual microscope” which dramatically extends the reach of traditional physical glass slides and microscope. Even though a growing number of slides in cancer research are digitized, multiple technological obstacles exist which hinder scientific discovery using these data: These gigapixel, gigabyte image files are unwieldy, located on local hard drives where IT solutions such as storage and retrieval are poorly scalable, limiting access and speed. Lack of centrally-located data leads to repetitive, redundant research and makes it difficult for cancer researchers to work synergistically and collaboratively by limiting widespread access and image sharing. Method. HistoWiz is building WizBaseTM, a Cloud-based virtual slide database platform served by a proprietary image-tagging web application for storing and evaluating histology data. Users will be able to instantly view and compare slides at high resolution on virtually any internet-connected computer or mobile device anywhere in the world. In addition, this web application would enable metadata tagging within these images improving scientific annotation, classification and most importantly, search. WizBaseTM can be regarded as the scientific hybrid of a product with the viewing power of Google Earth combined with the search and crowd-sourcing of Flickr. Development of a virtual slide database on a scalable IT infrastructure will improve histology data viewing and searching resulting in enhanced global scientific collaboration, allowing cancer to be fought cooperatively instead of individually. Results. We have built HistoWiz Viewer, the first online viewer on the Cloud powered by AWS using an HTML-based Deep Zoom viewer. HistoWiz Viewer allows users to instantly view their virtual slides on any internet-connected PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone without the need to download the virtual slides or install software or plug-ins. HistoWiz Viewer enables faster access to WSIs, more flexible browser choice, and greater scalability of computing power compare to currently available viewers. In addition, using AWS saves users thousands of dollars by avoiding the expenses of purchasing and maintaining an in-house IT storage system. Conclusion. As the first component of WizBase, we have developed HistoWiz Viewer on the Cloud powered by AWS to allow more flexible and faster viewing of WSIs compared to current technologies. Image acquisition, processing, storage and online viewing features of WizBase have been successfully implemented on a scalable IT infrastructure. Citation Format: Ke Cheng Cheng, Gerald Chu, Ruslan Sivak, Dee Dao. Development of a cloud-based histology database for collaborative cancer research. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: The Translational Impact of Model Organisms in Cancer; Nov 5-8, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A15.