# FHIRCat: Enabling the Semantics of FHIR and Terminologies for Clinical and Translational Research

> **NIH NIH R01** · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · 2022 · $678,237

## Abstract

Project Summary
HL7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is an emerging next generation standard framework for
the exchange of electronic health record (EHR) data. The FHIR specification defines a common vocabulary
and mechanism for sharing EHR data independent of how it is actually stored. All of the major EHR vendors
are developing standardized FHIR interfaces to their clinical data. One of the exciting aspects of FHIR is that it
is among the first clinical data standards to incorporate the vision of the “Semantic Web” described by Tim
Berners-Lee in his oft cited article from 2001. In the article, he asserts that the Semantic Web is the next "killer
app" and outlines a formula for success: 1) Represent information and meaning in a single, universal format -
Resource Description Framework (RDF); 2) Create a catalog of URIs that serve as shared identifiers for the
RDF representation in a given context of use; and 3) Create tools for transforming existing data and knowledge
resources into the universal language of RDF and URIs. This allows information from disparate sources and
structures to be combined into a single, federated collection of “linked open data”. This linked data model
allows clinical data to be combined with other linked data such as environmental, genetic, geographic, and any
other relevant data and to be analyzed as an integrated whole. We have previously demonstrated that the
combination of RDF, OWL semantics, and the Shape Expressions (ShEx) schema language could theoretically
provide a robust platform for integrating disparate data models and paradigms under a single, resource
oriented collection of interfaces. The objective of this project is to design, develop and evaluate a novel
informatics platform known as FHIRCat that leverages Semantic Web technologies, FHIR models/profiles, and
ontologies for effective standards-based data integration and distributed analytics, enabling high-quality
reproducible clinical and translational research. Our specific aims are: 1) Develop FHIR ShEx/RDF
specification and tools for FHIR data validation; 2) Standardize and deploy the RDF-based data transformation
between external models and FHIR; and 3) Build and evaluate a FHIR ontology-based data access (OBDA)
system interoperable with clinical data repositories across institutions in partnership with the CTSA National
Center for Data to Health (CD2H). The outcome of the project makes it possible to realize Berners-Lee’s vision
for healthcare in the very near future, in turn creating new opportunities for advancing the automation of FHIR-
based clinical data integration and sharing, and accelerating standards-based data discovery and distributed
analytics in clinical and translational research.
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10401244
- **Project number:** 5R01EB030529-02
- **Recipient organization:** MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Guoqian Jiang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $678,237
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-05-15 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10401244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10401244, FHIRCat: Enabling the Semantics of FHIR and Terminologies for Clinical and Translational Research (5R01EB030529-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10401244. Licensed CC0.

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