Database administration. Scaling and rating of raw data and diversity of data types requires dedicated database designers and administrators to manage the flow and storage of information efficiently.

Data processing and curation. Processing and curation of raw data (especially data derived from genomics) is necessary to link efficiently across other disciplines and allow the data to be accessed easily.

Data presentation. Developing mechanisms to view and present the useful data to scientists from a range of disciplines.

Data mining. The ultimate aim of informatics is to capture, curate and present the data in a format that will allow scientists to extract value from the underlying information.

Adapted from Lanfear, J. Dealing with the data deluge. Nature Rev. Drug Discov. 1, 479 (2002)