A Portable Neuroinformatic System in a Neurological Research Environment

Yilong Ma, Shivani Rachakonda, Vijay Dhawan, and David Eidelberg

Center for Neurosciences, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, New York University School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA

yma@nshs.edu

Brain imaging technology has revolutionized the fundamental study of central nerve system in both humans and animals. Changes in brain structure and function can been measured in exquisite detail and under living physiological conditions. This innovation has not only advanced our understanding of normal brain function but also shed important lights into molecular bases and viable experimental therapeutics in a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Data management and sharing become paramount because of the complexity and high cost involved in brain imaging research. It is therefore necessary to construct neuroinformatic tools to effectively store and manage vast amounts of data in a typical neurological research environment. This poses a big challenge in both database design and data sharing mechanisms. Many countries have established national task groups to develop comprehensive information systems covering all aspects of brain imaging for basic and clinical applications.

In this paper we describe the overall framework of a network-based information system, including system platform, functionality and database design. The system platform runs on a PC with a built-in relational database written in Microsoft access/SQL. It stores searchable demographic, genetic, clinical, cognitive and behavioral data as well as treatment status from each patient or normal volunteer. Each entry also has pointers to volumetric imaging data (MRI, CT, PET, SPECT) acquired at different sites, times and conditions. The database not only facilitates subsequent data processing and analysis, but also tracks the project progress and records the corresponding end data. This tool has greatly enhanced our local scientific research infrastructure and played a key role in our national and international collaborations.

Over the last 6 years this system has evolved into a significant neuroscience resource comprising thousands of brain images from patients with various neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to mapping anatomical abnormality, we have used this database to systematically measure hemodynamic, metabolic and biochemical dysfunction at resting and activated conditions. Consequently, we have established a set of signature functional makers that not only adequately describe the underlying neuropathology of each disease but also are sensitive to investigate natural courses of disease progression as well as treatment response of promising medications and neurosurgical interventions such as deep brain stimulation and cellular-based novel therapies. In this work we will also show how this tool can greatly increased the productivity of translational research in the context of multi-center cooperations. This tool and associated brain images are also being designed to link easily to the national or global comprehensive neuroinformatic systems currently under construction.

Keywords: Neuroinformatic System, Brain Bank, Neurological Disorders