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Better Together: OMOP + i2b2

Unlock More Value from OMOP with i2b2

Many institutions have adopted the OMOP Common Data Model to standardize and harmonize clinical data. But once your data is in OMOP, a new question emerges:

How do researchers actually access and use it efficiently? This is where i2b2 complements OMOP.

i2b2 can sit directly on top of your existing OMOP schema, providing a powerful, researcher-friendly interface and ecosystem that enables cohort discovery, feasibility analysis, and governed data access—without disrupting your underlying data model.

Better Together

OMOP and i2b2 serve different but highly complementary roles:

  • OMOP standardizes and structures your data
  • i2b2 activates that data for researchers

Together, they create a complete, end-to-end research data platform:

  • Standardized data → Accessible insights
  • Harmonized schema → Usable workflows
  • Data infrastructure → Research acceleration

How i2b2 Works with OMOP

i2b2 can be deployed on top of OMOP in multiple ways:

  • Direct mappings between OMOP tables and i2b2 ontology structures
  • Pre-built transformations that expose OMOP concepts in i2b2’s query interface
  • Support for hybrid architectures (OMOP + i2b2 + SHRINE or other federated layers)

This allows institutions to:

  • Preserve their OMOP investment
  • Avoid duplicative data pipelines
  • Provide immediate usability to researchers

Why Use OMOP + i2b2?

Whether you already have OMOP in production or are planning your data platform strategy, i2b2 can help you unlock its full potential.

Key Advantages with i2b2:
Federated Research Networks: Connect to established networks like SHRINE, enabling multi-site cohort discovery across institutions
Modern Cohort Discovery UI: Intuitive drag-and-drop query tool designed for clinicians and researchers (no SQL required)
Feasibility Analysis at Scale: Rapidly assess patient counts and refine inclusion/exclusion criteria in seconds
Embedded Governance Models: Built-in support for data access workflows, approvals, and policy enforcement
Proven Adoption: Deployed at 250+ hospitals and research institutions globally
Extensible Ontology Layer: Map OMOP concepts into user-friendly hierarchies for easier exploration
No Disruption to OMOP: Works alongside your OMOP CDM without requiring structural changes
Accelerated Time to Value: Enable immediate researcher access without building custom front-end tools