Frequently Asked Questions
If the answer to your question is not found here or in the Data Guide, please contact us.
General Access & Registration
Q. I registered, but I did not receive a confirmation email. What should I do?
A. Our automated responses are sometimes caught in email filters. If you registered to use the data and are experiencing difficulty logging in:
- Check your spam or junk folder.
- Clear your browser cache and history.
- Refresh the page and try logging in again using the credentials you used to register.
- If you still experience issues, please contact us.
Q. How do I get access to AACR Project GENIE data?
A. You can request access in two ways:
- For visualization and exploration: Visit cBioPortal and request access.
- For direct data download: Visit Synapse and request access.
Q. How do I register for cBioPortal?
A. Visit www.cbioportal.org/login to sign up for an account.
Q. Can I use a non-Gmail account to log in to cBioPortal?
A. Yes. Although we use Google Accounts for authentication, you can create a Google Account without using Gmail by linking your institutional email. Follow these instructions to create a Google Account using your preferred email address. After registering, refresh the page and log in again. If you continue to experience issues, please contact us.
Q. I registered for cBioPortal, but I still can’t access the data.
A: Try the following steps:
- Clear your browser history/cache.
- Refresh the page.
- Re-enter your credentials.
- If access issues persist, please contact us.
BioPharma Collaborative (BPC) & Research Use
Q: What is the BioPharma Collaborative (BPC)?
A: The BPC is a five-year precompetitive collaboration between AACR Project GENIE and 10 major biopharmaceutical companies aimed at generating large-scale clinico-genomic data on 12 disease cohorts. The project’s goal is to deeply annotate all patients within the registry using programmatic methods. You can learn more here.
Q. Can my lab, institution, or company sponsor a clinical study using GENIE data?
A. Yes, please contact us to discuss study sponsorship opportunities.
Q. Can I host public AACR Project GENIE data in another system for external access?
A. This depends on the use case and system. Please contact us to discuss further.
Data Access, Usage, & Citation Guidelines
Q. Can I download the data directly?
A. Yes. Although we use Google Accounts for authentication, you can create a Google Account without using Gmail by linking your institutional email. Follow these instructions to create a Google Account using your preferred email address. After registering, refresh the page and log in again. If you continue to experience issues, please contact us.
Q. Can I publish or present findings using AACR Project GENIE data or BPC public cohorts?
A. Yes, but any work using GENIE data must include proper attribution:
- Citation: The AACR Project GENIE Consortium. AACR Project GENIE: Powering Precision Medicine Through An International Consortium, Cancer Discov. 2017 Aug;7(8):818-831. Include the dataset version used.
- Acknowledgment: “The authors acknowledge the American Association for Cancer Research and its financial and material support in the development of the AACR Project GENIE registry, as well as consortium members for their commitment to data sharing. Interpretations are the responsibility of study authors.”
- Posters & Presentations: Should include the AACR Project GENIE Logo.
Q. Can I use a non-Gmail account to log in to cBioPortal?
A. Yes. Although we use Google Accounts for authentication, you can create a Google Account without using Gmail by linking your institutional email. Follow these instructions to create a Google Account using your preferred email address. After registering, refresh the page and log in again. If you continue to experience issues, please contact us.
Additional Questions & Support
Q. Is there a help desk or community forum for users?
A. While we do not have a public forum, users can reach out via info@aacrgenie.org for assistance.
Q. How frequently is GENIE data updated?
A. GENIE data releases occur twice a year, typically in April and October.
Q. Does GENIE include non-cancer genomic data?
A. No, AACR Project GENIE exclusively focuses on oncology and does not include genomic data from non-cancer patients.
