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Catalyzing Knowledge-Driven Discovery in Environmental Health Sciences through a Community-Driven Harmonized Language

Author

Listed:
  • Stephanie D. Holmgren

    (Office of Data Science, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA)

  • Rebecca R. Boyles

    (Research Computing, RTI International, Durham, NC 27709, USA)

  • Ryan D. Cronk

    (Health Sciences, ICF, Durham, NC 27713, USA)

  • Christopher G. Duncan

    (Genes, Environment, and Health Branch, Division of Extramural Research and Training, NIEHS, Durham, NC 27709, USA)

  • Richard K. Kwok

    (Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, NIEHS, Durham, NC 27709, USA
    Office of the Director, NIEHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA)

  • Ruth M. Lunn

    (Integrative Health Assessment Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, NIEHS, Durham, NC 27709, USA)

  • Kimberly C. Osborn

    (Health Sciences, ICF, Fairfax, VA 22031, USA)

  • Anne E. Thessen

    (Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA)

  • Charles P. Schmitt

    (Office of Data Science, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA)

Abstract

Harmonized language is critical for helping researchers to find data, collecting scientific data to facilitate comparison, and performing pooled and meta-analyses. Using standard terms to link data to knowledge systems facilitates knowledge-driven analysis, allows for the use of biomedical knowledge bases for scientific interpretation and hypothesis generation, and increasingly supports artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Due to the breadth of environmental health sciences (EHS) research and the continuous evolution in scientific methods, the gaps in standard terminologies, vocabularies, ontologies, and related tools hamper the capabilities to address large-scale, complex EHS research questions that require the integration of disparate data and knowledge sources. The results of prior workshops to advance a harmonized environmental health language demonstrate that future efforts should be sustained and grounded in scientific need. We describe a community initiative whose mission was to advance integrative environmental health sciences research via the development and adoption of a harmonized language. The products, outcomes, and recommendations developed and endorsed by this community are expected to enhance data collection and management efforts for NIEHS and the EHS community, making data more findable and interoperable. This initiative will provide a community of practice space to exchange information and expertise, be a coordination hub for identifying and prioritizing activities, and a collaboration platform for the development and adoption of semantic solutions. We encourage anyone interested in advancing this mission to engage in this community.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie D. Holmgren & Rebecca R. Boyles & Ryan D. Cronk & Christopher G. Duncan & Richard K. Kwok & Ruth M. Lunn & Kimberly C. Osborn & Anne E. Thessen & Charles P. Schmitt, 2021. "Catalyzing Knowledge-Driven Discovery in Environmental Health Sciences through a Community-Driven Harmonized Language," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:8985-:d:622350
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aubrey Miller & Kevin Yeskey & Stavros Garantziotis & Stacey Arnesen & April Bennett & Liam O’Fallon & Claudia Thompson & Les Reinlib & Scott Masten & James Remington & Cindy Love & Steve Ramsey & Ric, 2016. "Integrating Health Research into Disaster Response: The New NIH Disaster Research Response Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-12, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Shereen Elshaer & Lisa J. Martin & Theresa A. Baker & Erin Roberts & Paola Rios-Santiago & Ross Kaufhold & Melinda Butsch Kovacic, 2023. "Environmental Health Knowledge Does Not Necessarily Translate to Action in Youth," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.

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