The aim of the NeuroGrid consortium is to enhance collaboration between clinical, imaging and e-scientists to create a Grid-based network of neuroimaging centres and a neuroimaging toolkit. Sharing data, experience and expertise will facilitate the archiving, curation, retrieval and analysis of imaging data from multiple sites and enable large-scale clinical studies. A critical strategy of the NeuroGrid project is to provide enabling capabilities for the neuroimaging community by using Grid technology to allow current algorithms and existing data management procedures to be more accessible and interoperable, so that there are low barriers to entry and time is not wasted re-engineering well established algorithms or forcing alien practices on established research groups.
Although the primary aim is not to produce new research data, NeuroGrid will produce valuable new scientific findings from the application of cutting edge analytic methods to combined existing datasets. NeuroGrid has potential to serve NHS needs such as those identified in the National Service Frameworks for Mental Health and for Older People and Scottish Executive's CHD and Stroke Strategy. NeuroGrid will foster sharing of resources, expertise and data and so speed scientific advance through knowledge transfer across all areas of clinical neuroscience.
