Analyzing SNOMED CT and HL7 terminology binding for semantic interoperability on post-genomic clinical trials

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2013:192:980.

Abstract

Current post-genomic clinical trials in cancer involve the collaboration of several institutions. Multi-centric retrospective analysis requires advanced methods to ensure semantic interoperability. In this scenario, the objective of the EU funded INTEGRATE project, is to provide an infrastructure to share knowledge and data in post-genomic breast cancer clinical trials. This paper presents the process carried out in this project, to bind domain terminologies in the area, such as SNOMED CT, with the HL7 v3 Reference Information Model (RIM). The proposed terminology binding follow the HL7 recommendations, but should also consider important issues such as overlapping concepts and domain terminology coverage. Although there are limitations due to the large heterogeneity of the data in the area, the proposed process has been successfully applied within the context of the INTEGRATE project. An improvement in semantic interoperability of patient data from modern breast cancer clinical trials, aims to enhance the clinical practice in oncology.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / classification*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Clinical Trials as Topic / standards*
  • Electronic Health Records / standards*
  • Female
  • Genomics / standards
  • Health Level Seven / standards*
  • Humans
  • Information Storage and Retrieval / standards
  • Medical Record Linkage / standards
  • Natural Language Processing*
  • Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine*
  • Terminology as Topic*