Overview of an N3C Research Project

Owned by Maryam Abdallah
Nov 21, 2024
4 min read

This page presents the overall N3C recommendations and steps to start and conclude a research project using the N3C Enclave platform that will be detailed in the following guideline. Use the following chart to navigate through this guideline:

Expected Roles within an N3C Research Team

Navigating the Enclave to produce a research output requires individuals with diverse skill sets and roles. Therefore, N3C recommends understanding what a well-rounded research team entails for working within the Enclave. Various terms related to specific research skills and support teams are presented throughout the Enclave and its tutorials, and are defined here. N3C provides a variety of tools and resources to support researchers to enable smaller teams or single researchers to perform the range of tasks needed to work within the Enclave, as listed here.

Research Step

Resources and Applications in N3C Enclave

Other Links:

Research Step

Resources and Applications in N3C Enclave

Other Links:

1. Team Formation:

 

Project Lead: This person will create, manage, and submit appropriate forms, such as DURs, pertaining to the project.

 

Logic Liaisons extract and transform EHR data to develop reusable code templates and convenient derived datasets, known as Knowledge Objects

 

Data Liaison recommend previously validated concept sets or develop new concept sets based on their expertise in medical terminology in consideration of EHR and site data availability and limitations.

 

Navigator: USC does not have an assigned navigator. This guideline and additional N3C support resources serves as navigation to using N3C.

 

Collaboration Tools in the N3C

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Develop and Begin a Project using in the Enclave

There are several steps to beginning an N3C Research Project, including understanding the availability of data in the Enclave, submitting a DUR to access that data, and than formulating a plan to address research questions.

2. Develop a Research Project

Define Clinical Questions

 

Submit a DUR

  • This creates a unique project workspace for your project.

  • Explore your newly created Project Workspace.

 

Protocol

Link protocols to your project workspace to keep track of your methodology and decisions throughout your project lifecycle.

 

Define Cohorts of Interest

Consult subject matter experts and data liaisons to define a cohort using OMOP concepts that fits your research question.

  • OHDSI Atlas

  • Concept Set Browser to browse recommended and validated concept sets in the

  • Logic Liaison QC Template in the Knowledge Store

 

Select/Edit/Create Concept Sets

Create computable phenotypes using concept sets based on OMOP concepts.

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Data Curation and Analysis

3. Data Curation

Generate Fact Tables (Data Sets)

Fact tables provide essential information for cohort characterization and downstream analyses. Logic Liaison Fact Table Templates enable quick generation of common facts using N3C-vetted concept sets and peer-reviewed code. You can then add project-specific facts to this base table for your analyses.

4. Data Analysis

Develop Analytic Pipeline using Code Workbooks or Code-Free Platforms

  • Contour

  • Code Workbook

  • Code Repository

  • Notebook to aid in documentation

 

Public Dissemination

There are several formal steps before publishing, reporting, or presenting any findings using data from the N3C Enclave.

5. Manuscript Preparation

Download Data and Results

 

Submit Work to Publication Committee

More Information: