The Informatics Core provides database development and support for the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Core was established in 2001 with the following responsibilities:

• Design and implementation of databases
• Design and implementation of user interfaces
• Maintenance of databases and associated websites
• Custom data services involving specifi c programming expertise
• Custom data-set retrieval

These capabilities are offered on a recharge basis to Cancer Center members, both for long-term and short-term projects. The prioritization strategy for access to the Core emphasizes requests from other Cancer Center cores, followed by the needs of SPORE and PPG investigators, Cancer Center programs, and individual members.

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Services

In general, the Core develops data systems using a model that allows for multi-site, multi-platform data access via web browser. The architecture uses a scalable Oracle-based back-end coupled to a fl exible web-based front-end.

New Database and User Interface Implementation
Activities include: design and implementation of the database (back-end); design and implementation of user interfaces to the database (front-end); maintenance of the entire data system. All designs are reviewed with the requester prior to implementation.

Import of Existing Data into New Database
In most cases, a request for a new data system will necessitate transfer of existing data. The Core provides the necessary processing for this migration, which will generally involve transformation from existing data formats to a text format that is appropriate for upload into temporary storage in Oracle. Data are then migrated to their "real" tables in Oracle, and verifi cation is performed to ensure that the data integrity was preserved.

Custom Data System Design and/or Processing Requests
The Core also provides custom data system design and processing on an as-needed basis. These are solutions that do not necessarily fall into the typical system architecture described above. For example, assistance may be requested to migrate existing data to another small system that the requesting group can support and maintain internally.