Heal House Vitiligo Research 65 · Original Article
How can we bring together vitiligo patient data from around the world?
Roadmap to VIRTUAL-GLOBAL: coordinating VItiligo RegisTries for adUlts And chiLdren internationally
Last reviewed
In short
Connecting vitiligo patient records scattered across multiple countries can create larger, more reliable evidence. We proposed an international roadmap called 'VIRTUAL-GLOBAL' for this purpose.
Good research requires good data. However, vitiligo data were scattered in pieces around the world. Because each country collected data separately, the recording methods and items varied, making it difficult to combine them later. What if we align the standards from the start? It would allow us to connect data from multiple countries and see a much larger picture. As a blueprint for this, we proposed a roadmap for internationally linking adult and pediatric vitiligo patient registry data.
Q1 What are the benefits of linking vitiligo registry data internationally?
Linking vitiligo patient records scattered across multiple countries can create much larger and more reliable evidence. Vitiligo presents slightly differently depending on the country and ethnicity. However, when each country's registry data remain separate, it is difficult to see the big picture. Therefore, we proposed 'VIRTUAL-GLOBAL,' a roadmap for internationally aligning adult and pediatric vitiligo registry data. By standardizing the data collection methods and items, data from multiple countries can later be combined for more accurate research. I participated in this international collaboration as a co-investigator.
Closing remarks
For a disease with such individual variation as vitiligo, combining data from multiple countries to see the big picture is important. This roadmap provides the blueprint for that collaboration. It lays the foundation for more accurate and broader research in the future. I am pleased to be part of this international collaboration.
