The GO FAIR Foundation has been heavily involved in the set up of the Virus Outbreak Data Access Network (VODAN) since its start in March 2020. This GO FAIR Implementation Network focus is on making the SARS CoV-2 virus data FAIR, meaning that they are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and thus Reusable by both humans and machines. The FAIRification initially focuses on the Clinical Research Form (CRF) model following the WHO standards. Multiple IN partners will create input forms that make it easy for local caregivers to create FAIR-CRF data in real time as a first step. As a second step, localized FAIR Data Points (FDP) are set up via online work sessions. These FDP host the FAIR data, thereby making it possible for algorithms to visit the data with a specific question. The data never leaves the FDP, but rather get visited by algorithms to answer questions and discover patterns in these data. This approach has already been put into practise in several Personal Health Train (PHT) projects.
ZonMw funded project
The GO FAIR Foundation was asked by Dutch funder ZonMw to lead a project to test the PHT method in a small pilot, using real world observation COVID -19 data from at least two countries affected by the virus, please see https://www.zonmw.nl/nl/actueel/nieuws/detail/item/start-datanetwerk-coronavirus/ (in Dutch).
The project ended in July, and generated very successful outcomes.
VODAN Africa, funded by the Philips Foundation
Furthermore, the GO FAIR Foundation, Kampala International University and the Philips Foundation have teamed up in an effort to enable distributed access to the critical data needed from Africa to fight and contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Until now, these VODAN FAIR Data points have been installed on the African continent.
- First VODAN FAIR Data Point (Uganda)
- Second VODAN FAIR Data Point (Nigeria)
- Third VODAN FAIR Data Point (Nigeria)
- Fourth and fifth VODAN FAIR Data Point (Ethiopia)
- Sixth VODAN FAIR Data Point (Tunisia)
- Seventh VODAN FAIR Data Point (Kenya)
VODAN in a Box
The VODAN in a Box toolset was developed in these two projects. VODAN in a Box provides the VODAN semantic model based on the WHO CRF file, the FAIR Data Point software, a dedicated VODAN Data entry wizard, and search/query functionality that enables to query multiple FDP’s for numbers of patients with a specific characteristic, in one user friendly solution. VODAN in a Box makes instalment of a VODAN FAIR Data Point easy.
VODAN Pojects Documentation
We have created useful resources to help you along in your VODAN FAIR data projects.