LinkR: an open source, low-code and collaborative data science platform for healthcare data analysis and visualization

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe development of Clinical Data Warehouses (CDWs) has greatly increased access to big data in medical research. However, the lack of standardization among different data models hampers interoperability and, consequently, the research potential of these vast data resources. Moreover, data manipulation and analysis require advanced programming skills, a skill set that healthcare professionals often lack.MethodsTo address these issues, we created an open source, low-code and collaborative data science platform for manipulating, visualizing and analyzing healthcare data using graphical tools alongside an advanced programming interface. The software is based on the OMOP common data model.ResultsLinkR enables users to generate studies using data imported from multiple sources. The software organizes the studies into two main sections: individual and population data sections. In theindividual data section, user-friendly graphical tools allow users to customize data presentation, recreating the equivalent of a medical record, according to the needs of their study. Thepopulation data sectionis designed for conducting statistical analyses through both graphical and programming interfaces. The application also incorporates collaborative features, such as a messaging page and an integrated Git module. These features facilitate efficient collaboration and shared data analysis efforts across different research centers.ConclusionLinkR is a low-code data science platform that democratizes access, manipulation, and analysis of data from clinical data warehouses and facilitates collaborative work on healthcare data, using an open science approach.