As genomic sequencing increases around the globe, it becomes vital to store the generated data efficiently and sustainably. The CRAM file format tackles this challenge by efficiently storing genomic data. CRAM can help reduce disk space and storage costs by 30 to 50 per cent, accurately track reference genomes, improve integration within the field, and make data easy to transfer and share with collaborators.
Benefits
- Significantly reduces the size of genomic sequencing data through compression
- Reduces storage costs and fosters faster data sharing with collaborators
- Provides random access by genomic region and also selectively by data type
Target users
Researchers, and data custodians
Announcements
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 15 February 2023 | GA4GH products open for comment: CRAM v3.1, refget v2.0 |
| Title | Related Driver Projects and Organisations |
|---|---|
| All of Us Researcher Workbench | All of Us Research Program |
| ARGO Data Platform | ICGC ARGO |
| BioBank Japan (BBJ) | Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) |
| CanDIG V2 | Canadian Distributed Infrastructure for Genomics (CanDIG) |
| EJP-RD Virtual Platform | European Joint Programme on Rare Disease (EJP RD) |
| Genomics England Research Environment | Genomics England |
| H3ABionet | Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) |
| Medical Genomics Japan Variant Database (MGeND) | Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) |
| National Genomic Information System (NGIS) | Genomics England |
| NHLBI TOPMed BioData Catalyst | Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) |
| TogoVar | GEnome Medical alliance Japan (GEM Japan) |
| Tohoku Medical Megabank Project (ToMMo) | Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) |
Publications
Documents
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 14 September 2023 | Code of Ethics and Community Conduct (CECC) |
| 11 March 2023 | Meeting minutes: File Formats |
| 8 December 2020 | Meeting minutes: File Formats (2021) |
| 26 April 2019 | CRAM: the genomics compression standard |
Videos
| Date | Title | |
|---|---|---|
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25 March 2019 | CRAM: the data storage standard of genomics |
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25 March 2019 | What is CRAM? | James Bonfield |
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22 March 2019 | CRAM: a community effort |
Contributors
Don't see your name..?
Get in touch- James BonfieldCRAM LeadWellcome Sanger Institute (WSI), Hinxton, UK
- Daniel CameronIllumina, Inc., San Diego
- Shu Hui ChenNIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Bethesda
- Guy CochraneIndependent Contributor
- Robert DaviesWellcome Sanger Institute (WSI), Hinxton, UK
- Muhammad HaseebEMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI), Hinxton, UK
- John MarshallCentre for Population Genomics
- Arshiya Merchant
- Martin PollardWellcome Sanger Institute (WSI), Hinxton, UK
Driver Projects
| Title | Thematic Area |
|---|---|
| All of Us Research Program | Rare Disease Cancer Complex Traits |
| Australian Genomics | Rare Disease Cancer Complex Traits |
| Canadian Distributed Infrastructure for Genomics (CanDIG) | Rare Disease Cancer Complex Traits Basic Biology |
| European Joint Programme on Rare Disease (EJP RD) | Rare Disease |
| Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) | Complex Traits Basic Biology |
| ICGC ARGO | Cancer |
| GEnome Medical alliance Japan (GEM Japan) | Rare Disease Cancer Complex Traits Basic Biology |
| Genomics England | Rare Disease Cancer Complex Traits |
| Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) | Rare Disease Complex Traits Basic Biology |


