Metadata Only: Ingress, Annotation & Validation

Overview

This guide outlines the process for contributors to submit resource metadata to Synapse. It provides step-by-step guidance for accessing templates, annotating resources, and submitting metadata for validation.

Access Data

Required access:

• Synapse account

• Access to grant-specific Synapse project

• Access to metadata templates

• Access to the MC² Center Data Models Explorer

Instructions

1. Synapse Account Setup

• Create Synapse account if needed

• Complete user certification quiz

• Join grant-specific Synapse team

• Verify project access

2. Access Metadata Templates

• Navigate to appropriate folder based on resource type:

  • Publications: publications folder

  • Datasets: datasets folder

  • Computational Tools: tools folder

  • Educational Resources: education folder

• Select the Google Sheet linked in the folder

  • If present, do not modify the CSV stored in this folder

• Use the “Open Link” button to access the template

CRITICAL: Working with Templates

Throughout this process, you'll work with metadata templates provided as Google Sheets. These templates help capture important information about your data in a standardized format. To ensure your metadata can be processed correctly:

ONLY record metadata in templates linked in your Synapse Project

3. Metadata Annotation

• Each row represents one resource entry; add information describing a resource to a single row

• For each template:

  • Look for field descriptions in column headers

  • Hover over column names for detailed descriptions

  • Required fields are highlighted in blue

  • Optional fields provide additional context

  • Check “Sheet 2” for valid values:

  • Click “Sheet 2” tab at bottom (unhide if needed)

  • Find your column of interest

  • Use exact values from "Valid Values" column

  • Multiple values? Use commas to separate

  • Use comma-separated lists for multiple values

  Example: "RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq"

  Common information sources:

  • Data files themselves

  • Quality control reports

  • Lab notebooks

  • Protocol documents

  • Analysis outputs

  • Publications

4. Template Completion

• Once you’ve finished adding information to the Google Sheet

  • Review all entered information

  • Ensure all required fields are completed

  • Verify data format compliance

  • Check controlled vocabulary usage

  • Notify the MC² Center Data Manager when your entries are complete

5. Validation Process

• The MC² Center data manager will download and validate manifest

• You will be notified of any validation errors, which must be corrected before the resource can be listed on the portal

• After making the requested revisions, notify the MC² Center Data Manager

• Await final validation confirmation

Completion

Upon successful completion:

• All required metadata should be provided

• Template should be properly formatted

• Validation should be successful

• Metadata should be ready for upload

• The MC² Center data manager should be notified

Support

For assistance with this process, ensure you have completed the steps in Initiating the Data Contribution & Sharing Process or Contact Us.

Additional Resources

• MC² Center Data Model GitHub repository

• MC² Center Data Models Explorer

• Synapse documentation

• Cancer Complexity Knowledge Portal

• Frequently Asked Questions