The 7th Framework Programme funded EPITARGET consortium releases the Common Data Elements for preclinical epilepsy studies The EPITARGET Consortium has released Common Data Elements (CDEs) for preclinical epilepsy studies which it uses to harmonize the sample and data collection and data analysis. By using CDEs, the EPITARGET Consortium has taken the critical step to provide remedy to underpowered preclinical epilepsy studies. By using harmonized methodologies and reporting, the Consortium aims at improving the statistical power and reproducibility of the data generated. The attempts to translate the preclinical treatment discoveries to clinically used therapies have mostly failed as pointed out by a recent high profile article in Nature (Landis et al., Nature. 2012 Oct 11;490(7419):187-91). This also applies to epilepsy, the fourth common neurological disease affecting over 50 million people worldwide, and with no treatments to prevent its development in patients at risk, or cure for those who already have epilepsy. The EPITARGET consortium of 18 partners from 9 different European countries has undertaken the challenge to crack the code of epileptogenesis. As the first step, the EPITARGET Consortium has released Common Data Elements (CDEs) for preclinical epilepsy studies which it uses to harmonize the sample and data collection and data analysis. Professor Asla Pitkänen who is the WP Leader for this activity states: “By using CDEs, the EPITARGET Consortium has taken the critical step to provide remedy to underpowered preclinical epilepsy studies”. By using harmonized methodologies and reporting, the Consortium aims at improving the statistical power and reproducibility of the data generated. With these new tools, CDEs and database, the EPITARGET consortium is leading the way towards powered and reproducible studies on epilepsy. The Consortium has made the CDEs publicly available on its website to encourage the preclinical research community in other fields to take similar actions. The CDEs can be accessed via www.epitarget.eu/cdes. For more information: The Work Package leader and coordinator of this activity: Professor Asla Pitkänen, University of Eastern Finland Coordinator of the EPITARGET project: Professor Mérab Kokaia, University of Lund, Sweden EPITARGET Website: www.epitarget.eu EPITARGET is a Collaboration Project funded by the European Union under the 7th Framework Programme under grant agreement n° 602102. Keywords Epilepsy, Common Data Elements, CDEs, Preclinical research, data analysis, database, data harmonisation Countries Germany, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom
