Semantic SenseLab: Implementing the vision of the Semantic Web in neuroscience.
OBJECTIVE
Integrative neuroscience research needs a scalable informatics framework that enables semantic integration of diverse types of neuroscience data. This paper describes the use of the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and other Semantic Web technologies for the representation and integration of molecular-level data provided by several of SenseLab suite of neuroscience databases.


METHODS
Based on the original database structure, we semi-automatically translated the databases into OWL ontologies with manual addition of semantic enrichment. The SenseLab ontologies are extensively linked to other biomedical Semantic Web resources, including the Subcellular Anatomy Ontology, Brain Architecture Management System, the Gene Ontology, BIRNLex and UniProt. The SenseLab ontologies have also been mapped to the Basic Formal Ontology and Relation Ontology, which helps ease interoperability with many other existing and future biomedical ontologies for the Semantic Web. In addition, approaches to representing contradictory research statements are described. The SenseLab ontologies are designed for use on the Semantic Web that enables their integration into a growing collection of biomedical information resources.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate that our approach can yield significant potential benefits and that the Semantic Web is rapidly becoming mature enough to realize its anticipated promises. The ontologies are available online at http://neuroweb.med.yale.edu/senselab/.
Samwald
Matthias
M
Center for Medical Informatics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8009, USA. samwald@gmx.at
Chen
Huajun
H
Ruttenberg
Alan
A
Lim
Ernest
E
Marenco
Luis
L
Miller
Perry
P
Shepherd
Gordon
G
Cheung
Kei-Hoi
KH
D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet; D009415:Nerve Net; D009488:Neurosciences; D012660:Semantics; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical