OpenGALEN
Encyclopedia
OpenGALEN is a not-for-profit organisation that provides an open source medical terminology
. This terminology is written in a formal language called GRAIL (GALEN Concept Representation Language) and also distributed in OWL
.
Early phases of the GALEN Programme developed the GRAIL concept modelling language, experimented with different structures for the GALEN Common Reference Model, and, in parallel, tested the usefulness of the approach with a series of clinical demonstrator projects.
Later phases of the GALEN Programme, during the late 1990s, have concentrated on robust implementations of GRAIL and the Terminology Server
, development of the GALEN Common Reference Model in both scope and detail, and development of tools and techniques to enable the further development, scaling-up and maintenance of the model. An important additional focus has been in developing tools and techniques with which we can map the information found in existing coding and Medical classification
schemes to the GALEN Common Reference Model.
OpenGALEN has been set up as a not-for-profit Dutch Foundation by the universities of Manchester
and Nijmegen
to make the results of the GALEN projects available to the world.
s (or clinical terminology) being built in GRAIL. This model forms the underlying structural foundation for the services provided by a GALEN Terminology Server
.
The GALEN Common Reference Model is written in the formal language GRAIL (see below). The GRAIL statements in the model are equivalent with sentences like these:
The GALEN Common Reference Model is available from the OpenGALEN Foundation
as open source.
(CCAM).
Medical terminology
Medical terminology is a vocabulary for accurately describing the human body and associated components, conditions, processes and process in a science-based manner. Some examples are: R.I.C.E., trapezius, and latissimus dorsi. It is to be used in the medical and nursing fields...
. This terminology is written in a formal language called GRAIL (GALEN Concept Representation Language) and also distributed in OWL
Web Ontology Language
The Web Ontology Language is a family of knowledge representation languages for authoring ontologies.The languages are characterised by formal semantics and RDF/XML-based serializations for the Semantic Web...
.
Background
The GALEN technologies were developed with research funding provided by the European Community Framework III (GALEN Project) and Framework IV (GALEN-In-Use Project) programmes.Early phases of the GALEN Programme developed the GRAIL concept modelling language, experimented with different structures for the GALEN Common Reference Model, and, in parallel, tested the usefulness of the approach with a series of clinical demonstrator projects.
Later phases of the GALEN Programme, during the late 1990s, have concentrated on robust implementations of GRAIL and the Terminology Server
Terminology Server
A Terminology Server is a piece of software providing a range of terminology-related software services through an Applications Programming Interface to its client applications.Typical terminology services might include:...
, development of the GALEN Common Reference Model in both scope and detail, and development of tools and techniques to enable the further development, scaling-up and maintenance of the model. An important additional focus has been in developing tools and techniques with which we can map the information found in existing coding and Medical classification
Medical classification
Medical classification, or medical coding, is the process of transforming descriptions of medical diagnoses and procedures into universal medical code numbers...
schemes to the GALEN Common Reference Model.
OpenGALEN has been set up as a not-for-profit Dutch Foundation by the universities of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen is a public university with a strong focus on research in Nijmegen, the Netherlands...
to make the results of the GALEN projects available to the world.
GALEN Common Reference Model
The GALEN Common Reference Model is the model of medical conceptConcept
The word concept is used in ordinary language as well as in almost all academic disciplines. Particularly in philosophy, psychology and cognitive sciences the term is much used and much discussed. WordNet defines concept: "conception, construct ". However, the meaning of the term concept is much...
s (or clinical terminology) being built in GRAIL. This model forms the underlying structural foundation for the services provided by a GALEN Terminology Server
Terminology Server
A Terminology Server is a piece of software providing a range of terminology-related software services through an Applications Programming Interface to its client applications.Typical terminology services might include:...
.
The GALEN Common Reference Model is written in the formal language GRAIL (see below). The GRAIL statements in the model are equivalent with sentences like these:
- Ulcer is a kind of inflammatory lesion
- The process whose outcome is an ulcer is called ulceration
- The stomach is a part of the GI tract
- It is sensible to talk about ulcers located in the stomach
- Ulcers located in the stomach are called Gastric Ulcers
- Ulcers located in the stomach are actually located on the mucosa of the wall of the stomach
The GALEN Common Reference Model is available from the OpenGALEN Foundation
Foundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
as open source.
Projects
The GALEN tools and technologies were used in France for the development of the French classification of procedures Classification Commune des Actes MédicauxClassification Commune des Actes Médicaux
Classification Commune des Actes Médicaux is a French medical classification for clinical procedures. Starting in 2005, the CCAM serves as the reimbursement classification for clinicians...
(CCAM).