ABOUT

The combination of rapidly increasing medical knowledge and advances in information technology is allowing researchers to use human health data in ways that were previously unimaginable. Increasingly, the challenge is to find sufficient data to fuel this research. At the same time, huge volumes of suitable data are already being collected and stored electronically, in routine Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) databases, research-driven cohort studies associated with biobanks and other sources.

However, because this data exists in disparate locations and systems, it is generally used in isolation. It is rarely aggregated into larger datasets, meaning its full potential is not being realised. Additionally, privacy, legal and ethical issues related to data use also need to be properly addressed.

EMIF-Platform EMIF-AD EMIF-Metabolic

EMIF Introductory Video

This animation provides a brief introduction to the EMIF project and its key goals

To help improve access to these patient-level data, the European Medical Information Framework (EMIF) was launched in January 2013. The EMIF project is a five-year project and during this time it will develop common technical and governance solutions and improve access and use of health data. To this aim, a common Information Framework (EMIF-Platform) will link up and facilitate access to diverse medical and research data sources.

To ensure immediate applicability, the EMIF project includes two specific therapeutic research topics that will help guide the development of the Information Framework: the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (EMIF-AD) and metabolic complications of obesity (EMIF-Metabolic).

EMIF receives support from the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking (IMI-JU) under grant agreement n° 115372, resources of which are composed of financial contribution from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations’ (EFPIA) in kind contribution.

Links to other relevant projects

  • EHR4CR: The EHR4CR project is one of the largest public-private partnerships aiming at providing adaptable, reusable and scalable solutions (tools and services) for reusing data from Electronic Health Record systems for Clinical Research. Electronic Health Record (EHR) data offer large opportunities for the advancement of medical research, the improvement of healthcare, and the enhancement of patient safety

  • GetReal: aims to show how robust new methods of RWE collection and synthesis could be adopted earlier in pharmaceutical R&D and the healthcare decision making process

  • European Institute for Innovation through Health Data (I~HD): The vision of i~HD is to become the European organization of reference for guiding and catalyzing the best, most efficient and trustworthy uses of health data and interoperability, for optimizing health and knowledge discovery

  • EPAD: The EPAD project is part of a global effort in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and is a major European initiative to create a novel environment for testing numerous interventions targeted at the prevention of Alzheimer’s dementia

  • DPUK: Dementias Platform UK is a UK powerhouse for dementias research designed to fast-track scientific understanding, treatments and the prevention of the disease

EMIF Brochure now available for downloading

A PDF version of the EMIF Brochure providing an overview of the main achievements to date.