1. San Diego Supercomputer Center
The CIPRES Science Gateway: sustainability model
Mark A. Miller
San Diego Supercomputer Center

2. Phylogenetics is the study of diversification of life on Earth, and the relationships among living things through time…

3. Phylogenetic codes are compute-intensive
Phylogenetic codes are compute-intensive. CIPRES was created to help keep all groups engaged in relevant research in the DNA sequence-rich world, where laptops and desktops are no longer adequate for phylogenetic analysis.

4. Usage Statistics for CIPRES as of 6/30/2017

5. Usage Statistics for CIPRES as of 6/30/2017
Currently, users submit an average of jobs each month (10 jobs/user/month or so)

6. We have minimized operating expenses as a sustainability strategy (of necessity).
Operations are highly automated and stable in the near term.
Historically, staff size is about 1.7 fte.
Today staff size is 0.7 fte.
(this year we will support 10,000+ users)

7. In July, NSF declined the CIPRES proposal.
The founding developer resigned.
In two weeks we will know if NIH will fund continued development of CIPRES ……

8. There has to be a better way!

9. How do we change the funding model?

10. Created to save The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR)
Established connections with University Libraries around the world.
Libraries subscribe annually for access to page views.
Libraries typically budget items in the $ $5000 per year range
Libraries have a 98% renewal rate for TAIR subscriptions
TAIR now has a > $1 million per year budget from subscriptions,
TAIR pursues federal grants to add new features.

11. Business model:
Phoenix is a non-profit 501c(3)
Phoenix markets the resource and makes the sales
Phoenix creates the paywall and collects the funds
Phoenix takes 19% of revenue as a fee for its services

12. Create a CIPRES:Phoenix partnership
Subscriptions for individual users, institutions, countries
Subscriptions based on usage tiers
Create a mixed funding model as with TAIR: subscriptions to cover operating costs, grants for innovation

13. Will grad students convince their advisors to subscribe?
Will libraries subscribe to a cycle provider?

14. Stay tuned…..