The ENIGMA Stroke Recovery Working Group: Big data neuroimaging to study brain-behavior relationships after stroke

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Stroke Recovery Research
• Neuroinformatics

Background:

• The Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Stroke Recovery working group aims to investigate brain-behavior relationships.
• It leverages a large dataset of over 2,100 stroke patients from 39 studies across 10 countries, representing a significant multisite collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the development of neuroinformatics protocols and methods for managing multisite stroke data.
• To address challenges in big data collaboration for stroke research.

Main Methods:

• Described processes for scalable data intake and preprocessing of magnetic resonance imaging, behavioral, and demographics data.
• Detailed multisite data harmonization techniques.
• Explained methods for large-scale stroke lesion analysis.

Main Results:

• Successfully established protocols for managing a large, multisite stroke dataset.
• Identified unique challenges in big data collaboration for stroke research.
• Provided recommendations for future data harmonization and management.

Conclusions:

• The ENIGMA Stroke Recovery working group has created a robust framework for large-scale stroke data analysis.
• Standardized protocols are crucial for advancing stroke recovery research through collaborative big data initiatives.