The ENIGMA Stroke Recovery Working Group: Big data neuroimaging to study brain-behavior relationships after stroke

The goal of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Stroke Recovery working group is to understand brain and behavior relationships using well-powered meta- and mega-analytic approaches. ENIGMA Stroke Recovery has data from over 1,800 stroke patients collected across 32 research sites and 10 countries around the world, comprising the largest multi-site retrospective stroke data collaboration to date. This paper outlines the efforts taken by the ENIGMA Stroke Recovery working group to develop neuroinformatics protocols and methods to manage multi-site stroke brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), behavioral and demographics data. Specifically, the processes for scalable data intake and pre-processing, multi-site data harmonization, and large-scale stroke lesion analysis are described, and challenges unique to this type of big data collaboration in stroke research are discussed. Finally, future directions and limitations, as well as recommendations for improved data harmonization through prospective data collection and data management, are provided.