1. 3 June, 2014 Matthew Israelson Data Development Manager
Overcoming Challenges in Global Health Data to Empower Research: Collection, Attribution, and Dissemination
The Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx)
3 June, 2014
Matthew Israelson
Data Development Manager

2. Agenda Collection Attribution Dissemination Acquisition Storage
Cataloging
Enabling Research
Dissemination
Publishing
Visualizations

3. About IHME The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)
July 2007: Founding of IHME with support from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the state of Washington
March 2011: Launch of the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) at the Global Health Metrics and Evaluation conference
December 2012: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2010 (GBD 2010) published in The Lancet
June 2014: First yearly update of GBD published in The Lancet

4. About GHDx Original Charter for the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx)
Catalog the world’s health and demographic data
Share data where we have permission to
As much as possible, tell people where to find data
Exponential growth in order to accommodate the research
Includes over 30,000 data sources
Search, metatags, detailed citations
Growth based on researcher needs
ghdx.healthmetricsandevaluation.org

5. Acquisition Growth of Records Health Surveys Census Records
Surveillance Systems
Disease Registries
Vital Registration
Hospital Records
Financial Records
Literature

6. Storage Capacity of 250 Terabytes Access only for IHME staff
Limited Use Access
Restricted to named researchers
Controlled or sensitive datasets
Growth from 1.5 Terabytes to over 250 Terabytes in dozens of servers.

7. Cataloging
Each record in the GHDx is discoverable through a variety of methods. Just one is not enough for the a large and changing research team with a wide range in experience with user interfaces and databases.

8. Cataloging
Each record in the GHDx is discoverable through a variety of methods. Just one is not enough for the a large and changing research team with a wide range in experience with user interfaces and databases.

9. Cataloging
Each record in the GHDx is discoverable through a variety of methods. Just one is not enough for the a large and changing research team with a wide range in experience with user interfaces and databases.

10. Enabling Research GHDx is a central component to IHME’s Infrastructure
Website
Catalog
NID
RSS
Encyclopedia
Wiki
Discuss the Roles: Data Team, IT, Data Analysts
Tenants of the GHDx Infrastructure
Centralization: we want to consolidate all data prep in a standardized directory that’s easy to navigate and understand for current and future GBD members
Reproducibility: we want to make sure changes to the data are tracked in a way that can be reproduced; code should be used to make changes to raw data whenever possible
Efficiency: we need to be able to efficiently re-prep input data as needed and propagate throughout the results
Flexibility: we want to maximize flexibility in prepping data while still maintaining a standardized infrastructure
Continuity: we want to design a permanent structure that will be used for future iterations of GBD, not just this update cycle
Dimensions
Hierarchies
Risks
Causes
Locations
Covatiates
Demographics
Age Groups
Years
Sex
Etc.
Databases
COD
Covariates
Dismod
Epi
Federated
GBD
Vix
GHDx
Mortality
Ticketing

11. COOPER
Each record in the GHDx is discoverable through a variety of methods. Just one is not enough for the a large and changing research team with a wide range in experience with user interfaces and databases.

12. Publications Research Articles Policy Reports Brochures
Country Profiles
Infographics
Newsletters
Presentations
Videos
Visualizations
Create a list of major publications – article publications, website, visuals…
112 Publications (Research Articles) as of 7 April.

13. Visualization
Each record in the GHDx is discoverable through a variety of methods. Just one is not enough for the a large and changing research team with a wide range in experience with user interfaces and databases.

14. Visualization
Each record in the GHDx is discoverable through a variety of methods. Just one is not enough for the a large and changing research team with a wide range in experience with user interfaces and databases.

15. Visualization
Each record in the GHDx is discoverable through a variety of methods. Just one is not enough for the a large and changing research team with a wide range in experience with user interfaces and databases.

16. Research Tool & Catalog
Complexities
Need for an extensive IT Infrastructure
Integrating researchers and staff
Quantity of data sources and records
Current State
Expansive, searchable health data catalog
Tool development that empowers research
Growth based upon new avenues of research