The Biomedical Research Integrated Domain Group (BRIDG) Model is an information model, representing a shared view of the concepts of basic, pre-clinical, clinical, and translational research. This information model is being used to support development of data interchange standards and technology solutions that will enable semantic (meaning-based) interoperability within the biomedical/clinical research arena and between research and the healthcare arena.
An information model can be defined by the following characteristics:
- An implementation-independent view of a domain of interest
- Represents a shared understanding of concepts
- Uses domain terminology and is understandable to domain experts who may have little or no UML skills but yet, are a primary consumer
- Includes unambiguous definitions
- Uses complex data types designed specifically for the domain of focus, in our case healthcare
- Follows good modeling practices
- Enables interoperability when systems share a common understanding
- Is built by analysts and subject matter experts who develop consensus
- Informs development of downstream artifacts
The BRIDG Model is a hybrid of conceptual and logical models represented as UML Class Diagrams. It was built by harmonizing other project and domain models and each concept in the BRIDG model carries its provenance in the form of mapping tags indicating what data elements from other models map to that concept. See the Model Subset Diagrams & Reports page to explore the range of concepts included. The BRIDG model can be used to develop detailed design level artifacts and/or leveraged as:
- a reference model
- a data integration/mapping solution
- an exchange format
- the basis for a physical database design
- an ontology