Manifold collaboration FAQs

Allie Cliffe
  • Updated

1. What is the collaboration between Manifold and the Broad Institute?

The collaboration between Manifold and the Broad Institute focuses on building a next-generation biomedical data analysis platform to address the rapidly evolving challenges in science and technology. Through this collaboration, Manifold and Broad aim to accelerate scientific discovery everywhere, enabling researchers to more easily translate their work into real-world benefits for patients and the broader healthcare ecosystem.

The Terra platform is a critical tool for advancing data generation, management, analysis, and secure sharing. With this long-term, strategic collaboration, we’re moving toward an updated research cloud infrastructure — built by Manifold, steered by Broad’s Data Sciences Platform, and fully aligned with the Terra vision — to meet the future needs of the scientific community. The Broad’s deep expertise in all aspects of the life sciences, spanning genome sequencing, mechanistic discovery, and computational and translational science, combined with Manifold’s robust research cloud infrastructure, brings together powerful tools and capabilities to propel advancements in biomedical science.

2. What does this mean for Terra users and customers?

Nothing is changing in how users work in Terra. Terra will continue to provide the same functionality as it always has as well as new improvements in 2025. We will reach out with opportunities to participate in beta testing of the new platform for interested users so we can ensure we always meet your needs, now and in the years ahead.

3. What specific capabilities will Manifold bring to the analysis platform of the future?

Manifold’s platform will bring:

  • Bring your own cloud: Enables researchers to work in alignment with their organization’s cloud strategy, offering flexibility and a solution to fragmented data ecosystems.
  • Enhanced scalability: Designed to accommodate the exponential growth of biomedical data, supporting higher user volumes, more complex workflows, and massive datasets without compromising performance.
  • Proven approach to data harmonization: Seamlessly ingests and harmonizes diverse datasets into a research-ready environment, compatible with industry standards, ensuring data owners retain full control over access and permissions.
  • Purpose-built AI agents: Provides advanced capabilities such as natural language search, cohort building, automated survival and gene expression analysis, and the ability to “chat” with your data.
  • Improved data discovery: Features configurable reports, domain-specific visualizations, and semantic search to simplify data exploration and interpretation
  • Trusted data sharing and collaboration: Offers seamless collaboration across institutions within a secure research environment, ensuring adherence to data usage policies, fine-grained access controls, and comprehensive audit trails.

4. Will Terra features be included in the future platform?

Yes, the Product teams at both Manifold and Broad’s Data Sciences Platform are working together to ensure that all functionality users rely on in Terra is available in the future platform. We know that biomedical science is ever-evolving, and we are committed to staying alert to the new needs of the scientific community too.

The platform will continue to support the powerful security posture already in place at Terra, which is both FISMA and FedRAMP compliant.

5. Will I have to pay additional subscription fees for the future platform?

The collaboration will ensure that a free tier of the platform remains available, as it is today.

Manifold's existing technology is available today through various subscription tiers for commercial use. Manifold’s platform currently supports projects at leading organizations including the American Cancer Society, the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

6. How does Manifold’s involvement enhance what Terra already offers?

Terra is an incredible platform that enables biomedical researchers to access data, run analysis tools both interactively and automatically, and collaborate securely. In order for us to continue moving at the right pace from both a scientific and technical perspective, we need to outpace the evolution of technology.

Manifold’s focus on the technical infrastructure allows us to incorporate new infrastructure features quickly – such as “bring your own cloud” and enhanced scalability. This infrastructure will allow the Broad Institute DSP team to more rapidly build and offer tools and capabilities to propel advancements in biomedical science.

7. Can I use Manifold’s existing platform today?

Yes, Manifold’s existing platform is available now. It has a proven track record of supporting transformative projects at leading research organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Contact Manifold to learn more or support@terra.bio and we’ll help you get in touch.

8. How does Manifold’s existing platform manage the data provided by users?

Just like Terra, Manifold’s platform acts as a steward of data by offering users secure storage, robust management tools, and analysis capabilities. Users retain full ownership and control over their data, including decisions about sharing and access permissions. We’ll carry this philosophy forward into the future platform.

9. Who do I reach out to if I have additional questions?

Email support@terra.bio and the Support team will be happy to help!

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