Ndex 2.0: A Clearinghouse For Research On Cancer Pathways

We present NDEx 2.0, the latest release of the Network Data Exchange (NDEx) online data commons (www. ndexbio. org) and the ways in which it can be used to (i) improve the quality and abundance of biological networks relevant to the cancer research community; (ii) provide a medium for collaboration involving networks; and (iii) facilitate the review and dissemination of networks. We describe innovations addressing the challenges of an online data commons: scalability, data integration, data standardization, control of content and format by authors, and decentralized mechanisms for review. The practical use of NDEx is presented in the context of a novel strategy to foster networkoriented communities of interest in cancer research by adapting methods from academic publishing and social media.