The EVI-GENORET Database

Abstract

Purpose:: The EVI-GENORET is a european-wide consortium of retinal clinical and research centers. The aim of the EVI-GENORET Database is to centralise phenotypic, genomic and proteomic data concerning retinal diseases as well as a data set concerning patients. This allows implementation of standards (Clinical Report Forms, Standardized Operation Procedures, Standardized Experimental Procedures) and permits the establishment of common information networking systems

Methods:: Within this relational database, in order to maintain real-time access to distributed data sources and maintain patient privacy, we have develop a system that creates a virtual database without actual centralization of sensitive information. This system not only permits us the management and organization of data but also the interrogation of data through complex queries in natural language.The database can be visited via a three level web interface : restricted, general and public. The restricted level can be accessed by any defined group of EVI-GENORET registered people. The owner decides who has access to his/her data. The general level is for all registered EVI-GENORET people (with password). The public level corresponds to free internet access.

Results:: The relational database is a link between all components and workpackages, from gene to disease, from animal models to clinical trials. These data-sharing possibilities allow the cross-validatation and analysis of a growing and diverse range of retinal information.

Conclusions:: The EVI-GENORET Database is a novel informatic tool that hopefully will help in the coordination and integration of biological and clinical data within the European Consortium on functional genomics of the retina in health and diesease

Keywords: retinal degenerations: cell biology • retinal degenerations: hereditary • retinal development