UCLA Biomedical Data Commons launches Its first research application: cohort browser

The UCLA Biomedical Data Commons (BDC) is a new institutional initiative designed to accelerate biomedical discovery by providing researchers with a centralized platform to discover, access, integrate, and analyze biomedical data across UCLA.

The BDC's first application, the Cohort Browser, is now available to UCLA researchers at no cost, providing access to two major data resources:

Clinical data: Deidentified electronic health record (EHR) data from more than 3.7 million active patients in UCLA Health's CareConnect (Epic) system; and

Genomic data: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) data from more than 120,000 participants in the UCLA ATLAS Community Health Initiative, led by the Institute for Precision Health.

Powered by DNAnexus, the Cohort Browser enables researchers to query clinical data independently or in combination with linked genomic data from ATLAS participants.

What Can Researchers Do Now?

Through a user-friendly interface, researchers can explore clinical and genomic data to:

Assess study feasibility by identifying populations that meet research criteria.

Inform study design by exploring cohort characteristics and available data.

Define research cohorts to support research planning and approved studies.

What's Next for the BDC?

The Cohort Browser is the first step in a broader strategy to make UCLA's biomedical data accessible for research.

While the initial release supports cohort discovery, by January 2027, the BDC will launch a secure analytical environment, modeled after the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform. Researchers will be able to copy data into their DNAnexus AWS projects to conduct advanced analyses of clinical and genomic data.

Future expansion will include additional genomic data and integration of other biomedical data sources, including but not limited to imaging, clinical notes, and waveforms. These efforts will require collaboration across institutional stakeholders to build a comprehensive research infrastructure that unlocks the full potential of UCLA's biomedical data.

Request Access and Learn More

UCLA researchers can visit the BDC Access and Onboarding webpage for eligibility requirements and access instructions.

Once access is provisioned, researchers can use the DNAnexus Community Portal for training materials, FAQs, the data dictionary, and other resources. Additional introductory sessions and training opportunities, including those offered through the UCLA Collaboratory, will be announced soon.

For questions about the BDC or Cohort Browser access, please contact bdc@mednet.ucla.edu.