The informatics core of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

Abstract

The Alzheimer's Diseases Neuroimaging Initiative project has brought together geographically distributed investigators, each collecting data on the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The quantity and diversity of the imaging, clinical, cognitive, biochemical, and genetic data acquired and generated throughout the study necessitated sophisticated informatics systems to organize, manage, and disseminate data and results. We describe, here, a successful and comprehensive system that provides powerful mechanisms for processing, integrating, and disseminating these data not only to support the research needs of the investigators who make up the Alzheimer's Diseases Neuroimaging Initiative cores, but also to provide widespread data access to the greater scientific community for the study of Alzheimer's Disease.

Fig. 1

Global distribution of ADNI investigators by sector.

Fig. 2

Clinical and imaging data flows from the acquisition sites into separate clinical and imaging databases. Quality assessments and preprocessed images are generated by the imaging cores and returned to the central archive where image analysts obtain, process, and return to the archive further derived image data and results.

Fig. 3

The Data Collections interface provides access to shared data collections and is organized to meet the workflow needs of the analysts. The ability to easily select only images not previously downloaded by the user saves time and effort.

Fig. 4

Redundant hardware and multiple backup systems ensure data are secure and accessible.

Fig. 5

The number of image downloads by hour of the day shows maximum activity occurring during U.S. working hours but still a significant amount of activity at other times in line with the numbers of investigators inside and outside the U.S.

Fig. 6

Project summary components include a tabular listing (above) and a graphical representation (below). Specific sites and time ranges control the information displayed and tabular data may be exported for use, such as in reports and in further analysis.

Fig. 7

User management components support the work of the DPC, the body charged with reviewing, approving, and tracking ADNI data usage and related publications.