Code Map Services: a new paradigm for interoperability

The Code Map Services/Common Data Model Harmonization Phase III (CDMH-III) project aims to create services allowing researchers to streamline and establish standardized model-to-model/data standards mappings and transformation rules leveraging common data models (CDMs) and common data elements (CDEs) to address the challenge of repeated mapping efforts.

The project team developed CDM transformation services, improved mappings, and semiautomated transformation rule creation. Activities included registration of CDMs and CDEs, development of application programming interfaces, implementation of extract-transform-load workflows, validation of mappings through subject matter expert review, and evaluation using Food and Drug Administration clinical use case involving real-world data. Transformation pathways were established among Health Level Seven Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources US Core, and Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium study data tabulation model.

Data mappings and transformation rules have been created and stored in the Cancer Data Standards Registry and Repository, a highly curated metadata repository with open accessibility for all users. A workflow architecture was developed to illustrate all the steps in a data acquisition, transformation, and submission process.

The CDMH-III project improves interoperability across clinical data models by enabling automated, standardized data transformations through Code Map Services, allowing researchers to access and analyze data from diverse sources. This supports higher quality, more transparent, and reproducible research while facilitating the use and regulatory submission of real-world data across health care and clinical research systems.

Common Data Model Harmonization Phase III advances interoperability by providing standardized, semantically driven mapping services that enable automated, reliable data transformation across CDMs and health-care standards.