The Neuroscience Information Framework (NIF) is a new and free resource that is a dynamic inventory of Web-based neuroscience resources: data, materials, and tools accessible via any computer connected to the Internet. An initiative of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, NIF advances neuroscience research by enabling discovery and access to public research data and tools worldwide through an open source, networked environment.
NIF OFFERS:
- A search portal (link to NIF advanced search interface) for researchers, students, or anyone looking for neuroscience information, tools, data or materials.
- Access to content normally not indexed by search engines, i.e, the “hidden web”
- Tools for resource providers to make resources more discoverable, e.g., ontologies, data federation tools, vocabulary services
- Tools for promoting interoperability among databases
- Standards for data annotation
- The NIFSTD ontology covering the major domains of neuroscience, e.g., brain anatomy, cells, organisms, diseases, techniques
- Services for accessing the NIF vocabulary and NIF tools
- Best practices for creating discoverable and interoperable resources
- Data annotation services: NIF experts can enhance your resource through semantic tagging
- NIF cards: Easy links to neuroscience information from any web browser
- Ontology services: NIF knowledge engineers can help create or extend ontologies for neuroscience
A link to this resource appears in the library’s A-Z list of online resources.