Knooppunten
Hub & Nodes
The establishment of regional nodes is one of the central components of the national health data infrastructure.
In short, Health-RI will work on an agreement system and enable data exchange by using a so-called Hub and Nodes model. In 2021, eight regional Nodes will be set up and operational; namely region Utrecht, region Rotterdam, region Groningen, region Maastricht, region Amsterdam, region Nijmegen, region Leiden and region Eindhoven. The central Hub supports the Nodes in various actions such as: making data FAIR, providing services to researchers, and ensuring the connection to many parties both on a national and an international level.
Central to the network is the data catalog that is filled with metadata from the Nodes, among others, with the data in many cases remaining local. Naturally, this is also backed up by a fully equipped governance structure, including a legal basis and authorization to actually release the data to a researcher. The health infrastructure is broader than just the Nodes, but the Nodes that started in 2021 are important pillars and precursors in this process.
Agreements with the eight Nodes started in the beginning of 2021. The Nodes are governed through the Heads of Nodes, together with the tactical representatives and in close cooperation with the Health-RI Hub. Within the Nodes, the focus is on four themes; namely (1) Ethical, Legal, and Societal Issues (ELSI), (2) Architecture, (3) FAIR Data Implementation, and (4) Biobanks and Collections. Moreover, each Node is working on a one-stop shop for services for these four themes. Regional coordinators are active within all Nodes for the themes and the one-stop shop function.
Lets engage!
Do you want to know more about the regional nodes? Please get in contact with us via Evelien de Jong. Are you representing a healthcare organization and want to get in touch with the people representing your region as a regional node? We would love to exchange knowledge and ideas!
History
The approach of regional Nodes is one of the founding principles of the health data infrastructure. Health-RI works with a ‘Hub and Nodes’ model. Eight regional Nodes are already up and running, meaning that healthcare data is actively stored, accessed, and exchanged in these regions. The Nodes all have a historical background with the Dutch Academic Centers (UMC’s) and hospitals in Rotterdam, Utrecht, Groningen, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Leiden and Eindhoven. The national health data infrastructure will eventually reach across the Netherlands, but these regional Nodes are important partners and crucial building blocks for the health data infrastructure.
