Project Summary
The BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN) will generate comprehensive molecular taxonomies and
organizational principles of cell type diversity in the human and non-human primate extending comprehensive
BICCN work in the mouse. This detailed census of the structure and role of cell type specific data in the brain
is recognized as one of the most promising avenues for advancing our understanding of the human brain in
health and disease. To facilitate successful operations for BICAN, this project will establish an engagement,
outreach, and coordination unit for the consortium that will manage operations, essential standards
development and documentation, provide operational transparency, and identify and coordinate solutions to
key hurdles for collaboration and analysis. In addition to organizing virtual and in-person meetings of the
BICAN network and working groups this unit will improve interoperability and alignment with other consortia
and partners and aim to improve usage for a wide range of potential data consumers. Complementing these
fundamental operational goals of the BICAN consortium and partner CUBIE units, this unit will provide a
governance structure for generation and operational transparency of BICAN data production and release and
standards development. Essential activities will include technical management and facilitation of community
standards, schemas, and ontology development, and centralized consortium data registration and dashboard,
and coordinating and organizing BICAN outreach, training, and education activities to enhance interactions
with external research programs and consortia. The resulting consortium generated data and tools will be
made publicly accessible in a community portal supporting data retrieval, consortium activities, amplify public
impact through strong BICAN partnership management, communication, standards committees, and analysis
working groups, and develop infrastructure for maximizing community usage, publishing standards and
tutorials, and coordinating education and outreach.