The long term goal of the Data Management Core is to develop and maintain a mechanism to support the computer, data processing, experimental design and data analysis needs for investigators engaged in the long-term study of Alzheimer's Disease. Research projects fail to thrive for many reasons. One such reason is the failure to focus sufficient attention on the often times tedious process of monitoring the acquisition and processing of information. Valid conclusions are virtually impossible when based upon unreliable or faulty data. Considerable care is necessary in attending to the details of complete data collection, data movement, verification, storage and processing as well as details of experimental design and analysis. We have detailed a mechanism to collect, transfer and process data obtained from diverse sites in such a way s to maximize its reliability and timely processing while minimizing the problems introduced by data missing as a result of an inappropriate or careless processing or collection. We have also taken care to insure its long-term safety. Considerable effort has been allocated toward the goal of processing of complete and reliable information. We have provided for assisting in the intemal monitoring of data reliability and standardization studies, within the clinical core, and the planning of analytic strategies. Technical support in processing of laboratory data and image analysis has been provided for those investigators with special needs. We have taken care to allow for the expansion of our support to new projects and investigators in an orderly and coherent manner. Finally, to enhance the communication among the investigators we have established several mechanisms for the transfer of information to each of the remote sites.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 482 publications
