Center for Innovation in Imaging Biomarkers and Integrated Diagnostics (CIMBID)

Flywheel Service

Abstract image representing artificial intelligence and big data.

Flywheel, offered through CIMBID, is an advanced cloud-based imaging informatics platform designed to enhance medical imaging research by providing scalable access to multi-modal imaging datasets. Flywheel offers robust tools for efficient imaging data indexing, retrieval, storage, management and analysis, streamlining workflows and facilitating the deployment of cloud-based AI analysis pipelines across diverse datasets. Users have the flexibility to utilize both cloud-based and local compute for their projects, promoting scalable and reproducible science and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration across various research domains.

Flywheel Features

  • Ingestion of multi-modal imaging data generated for/from research
  • Large-scale medical imaging data retrieval from the PACS/VNA
  • Standard and custom de-identification profiles that allow for large-scale data anonymization and enhanced data security.
  • HIPAA-compliant, complying with IT security standards for both CUIMC and NYP, ensuring adherence to stringent data protection standards.
  • Custom "Gears", which are simple containerized apps designed to automate and streamline data processing workflows, can be implemented to encapsulate local algorithms, facilitating their seamless deployment.
  • Integration with Jupyter Notebook, providing an interactive computing environment for data analysis and visualization within a familiar and flexible interface.

The CIMBID research informatics team offers Flywheel as an institutional resource to access, curate, and leverage biomedical imaging data for research. We assist research groups with submitting requests for accessing/retrieving and/or storing medical imaging datasets for research purposes. We also offer assistance in containerizing algorithms to run on the platform ensuring reproducible and scalable data processing workflows. For image visualization, Flywheel integrates the Open Health Imaging Foundation (OHIF) Viewer, a radiology-grade, zero-footprint DICOM viewer that enables researchers to interact with imaging data directly within the platform. OHIF supports advanced functionalities such as volumetric segmentations, 3D rendering, PET fusion and the display of RTStruct files allowing for the analysis and interpretation of imaging studies.

Request a Consultation

Please submit the request form to request a general consultation on how to use Flywheel.

Request Imaging Data Access

Please submit the request form for imaging data access via Flywheel. You will need to have an approved IRB protocol, which includes Flywheel as the platform for data retrieval and/or storage, and an approved TRAC request providing a list of imaging study accession numbers for retrieval.

Request a Flywheel Account

Please submit the request form to request a Flywheel account. This is intended for users who plan to use Flywheel for more advanced storage, computing, and gear functionality.

Flywheel Request Form