PDI-SSH funding for harmonized metadata infrastructure

Connecting Data in Child Development (CD²) is a new initiative to develop a digital infrastructure that encompasses harmonized metadata for six longitudinal youth cohorts. CD² was one of twelve projects to receive funding from the Platform for Digital Infrastructure for Social Sciences and Humanities (PDI-SSH). 

Six longitudinal youth cohorts (YOUth, L-CID, RADAR, NTR, TRAILS, and Generation R) are currently collaborating as part of our Consortium on Individual Development (CID). These cohorts have collected a wealth of data on social, psychological, and biomedical developments during childhood, adolescence and beyond. To use these multidisciplinary data to their full potential and enable cross-study integration, it is crucial to highlight the connections and commonalities between these cohorts. To do this, the information about the data (metadata) needs to be harmonized and easily findable.

In his recent webinar ‘Harmonized metadata as a footprint for cross-cohort data sharing​‘ Otto Lange (Metadata expert at Utrecht University Library) underlined the need for harmonized metadata. He emphasised that good metadata structures rely on common terminology and how a community effort is needed to translate different domain perspectives into a common structure.

Building on the links in our CID community, Connecting Data in Child Development (CD²) aims to develop a digital infrastructure that encompasses harmonized metadata of all six cohorts. This digital infrastructure will enable users to locate and explore study variables and materials, and thereby identify opportunities for integration, replication, and collaboration. CD² will develop this infrastructure in accordence with the excellent standards employed by ODISSEI and HEALTH-RI, complementing these initiatives.

Main applicant: Chantal Kemner (YOUth study, Utrecht University)
Co-applicants and partners: Dorret Boomsma (NTR study, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Susan Branje (RADAR study, Utrecht University), Lara Wierenga (L-CID study, Leiden University), Tineke Oldehinkel (TRAILS study, University Medical Center Groningen), Pauline Jansen (GenerationR study, Erasmus University), Manon Hillegers (GenerationR study, Erasmus Medical Center)

More information

Funded PDI-SSH projects: https://pdi-ssh.nl/en/2020/06/funded-projects-2020-call/

Webinar by Otto Lange ‘Harmonized metadata as a footprint for cross-cohort data sharing​‘