GAFOS

Global Alliance for Open Science

recent posts

  • Background

    PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

    Publicly funded data resources are the invisible engine behind life sciences research. They power every stage of discovery – from identifying new targets to driving clinical breakthroughs – enabling scientists to ask better questions, build smarter models, and deliver therapies that change lives. 

    But these critical resources are under threat. 

    Shifts in U.S. federal funding have exposed deep vulnerabilities from shrinking budgets, uncertain maintenance plans to increasing technical vulnerabilities. Without urgent action, the infrastructure that supports global biomedical progress could begin to crumble.

    When these resources falter, discovery slows, innovation grinds to a halt, the economy shrinks, and patients are left waiting.

    The future of open biomedical data hangs in the balance. Let’s protect it — together.

    Join the movement. Be part of the solution.

  • About

    The Global Alliance for Open Science (GAFOS) was founded at the 2025 Bio-IT World Conference & Expo by a passionate, cross-disciplinary coalition of professionals who recognized a stark reality: our most vital research infrastructure is at risk. 

    GAFOS unites leaders from biopharma, data science, policy, and research institutions around a shared mission to protect and advance public data infrastructure in the life sciences. 

    We believe that open, stable, and accessible data resources are non-negotiable. They are the bedrock of modern science, the fuel for therapeutic breakthroughs, and the connective tissue of global collaboration. 

    Through advocacy, education, and strategic partnerships, GAFOS is working to: 

    • Raise awareness of this urgent, global challenge.
    • Advocate for sustainable, long-term funding and supportive policy frameworks. 
    • Mobilize a global community to protect and strengthen these critical resources. 

    This is not just about keeping data online. It’s about safeguarding decades of collective scientific progress, accelerating future discoveries, and ensuring researchers everywhere have the tools they need to continue to change lives. 

  • Join the Movement

    The future of open science depends on all of us. 

    GAFOS is a global community of researchers, technologists, policymakers, and advocates working together to protect essential public data resources. Whether you’re in academia, industry, government, or the nonprofit sector – your voice makes a difference.

     Ways to Get Involved:

    • Join a Working Group
      Lend your expertise to collaborative projects focused on data analytics, policy, communications, or community outreach.
    • Volunteer Your Skills
      Help with writing, advocacy, graphic design, data storytelling, or other areas that align with your strengths.
    • Share Your Story
      Tell us how public data resources impact your work and why protecting them matters. Your perspective can inspire action.

    Engage with Us on Social Media
    Like, Comment, and Share our posts to spread awareness in your network. Every click helps amplify the conversation.

  • 2025 Survey

    Impact of Public Data Resources on Biopharma and Life Sciences Workflows 

    In light of rapid political changes in the USA in 2025, we launched our first public survey targeting the academic, agricultural, biotech, governmental and pharmaceutical sectors. Our aim was to understand:

    (1) how policy changes were affecting the availability of open data and software.

    (2) how policy changes affected or were expected to affect progress in different sectors.

    (3) which federally supported biomedically-relevant datasets and research programs (receiving >$100 million in funding) were considered most important across sectors.

    (4) which software developed with federal support was most used across sectors.

    (5) interventions people would like to see effected to counter the actual and potential fall out from these policies.

    Participate

    To participate in the survey please click here.

    Results

    Preliminary results were presented at ISMB 2025. 

    From Open Access to Uncertain Access: Global Survey Insights on the Future of Public Biomedical Data Infrastructure
    Presented by Eleanor Howe and GAFOS contributors at ISMB 2025, this poster highlighted key findings from our global survey, underscoring community reliance on public data resources and the risks posed by funding instability. [Download]

    Stay tuned for a more detailed breakdown of the results.

  • Contact us

    Stay Connected:

    For all inquiries and to sign up for updates, please contact Cindy Crowninshield: ccrowninshield@cambridgeinnovationinstitute.com