Rochester Epidemiology Project
Encyclopedia
The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) is a unique research infrastructure that has existed since 1966, and allows for population-based medical research in Olmsted County, Minnesota
. The project has been continually funded by the National Institutes of Health
since 1966. Specifically, the REP links together medical diagnosis and procedure information across all medical providers in the county. The project is a collaboration between Olmsted Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic
, and Rochester Family Medicine Clinic.
in 1966 under the direction of Dr. Leonard T. Kurland, a neurologist who started his career at the NIH and moved to Olmsted County, Minnesota when he realized the great benefit to medical research that a population-based record linkage
system could have. More recently, the study funding source changed to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
, and as of July 2010 the REP is funded by the National Institute on Aging
. Olmsted County was an optimal location for such a population-based research infrastructure because the county is relatively isolated from other metropolitan centers, because almost all medical care is received within the county and all medical specialties are available to county residents, and because the Mayo Clinic already maintained a dossier-type medical record system dating to the early 1900s.
, rheumatoid arthritis
, osteoporosis
, Parkinson’s Disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, heart failure, stroke
, multiple myeloma
, and many others. Since its inception, the REP has supported more than 2,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications spanning almost every field of medicine.
Olmsted County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 124,277 people, 47,807 households, and 32,317 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 49,422 housing units at an average density of 76 per square mile...
. The project has been continually funded by the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
since 1966. Specifically, the REP links together medical diagnosis and procedure information across all medical providers in the county. The project is a collaboration between Olmsted Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
, and Rochester Family Medicine Clinic.
History
The REP was originally funded by the National Institute of General Medical SciencesNational Institute of General Medical Sciences
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences is a part of the National Institutes of Health that primarily supports research that lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention...
in 1966 under the direction of Dr. Leonard T. Kurland, a neurologist who started his career at the NIH and moved to Olmsted County, Minnesota when he realized the great benefit to medical research that a population-based record linkage
Record linkage
Record linkage refers to the task of finding records in a data set that refer to the same entity across different data sources...
system could have. More recently, the study funding source changed to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, or NIAMS, is an institute of the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services...
, and as of July 2010 the REP is funded by the National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Aging
The National Institute on Aging ' is a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health , located in Baltimore, Maryland.The NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life...
. Olmsted County was an optimal location for such a population-based research infrastructure because the county is relatively isolated from other metropolitan centers, because almost all medical care is received within the county and all medical specialties are available to county residents, and because the Mayo Clinic already maintained a dossier-type medical record system dating to the early 1900s.
Scientific Contributions
The REP has contributed significantly to the understanding of many diseases, including epilepsyEpilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
, rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
, osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
, Parkinson’s Disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, heart failure, stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
, and many others. Since its inception, the REP has supported more than 2,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications spanning almost every field of medicine.