Data harmonization in toxicology is achieved through several key steps:
Standardization: Developing and adopting standardized protocols and terminologies is crucial. This includes using consistent measurement units and adopting common ontologies for chemical entities and biological effects. Data Cleaning: This involves correcting errors, removing duplicates, and filling in missing values to ensure data quality. Data Transformation: Converting data into a common format, such as converting analog data to digital, or aligning different data scales, is necessary for integration. Metadata Annotation: Adding metadata to describe the data, such as the experimental conditions and the methods used, helps in understanding the context and applicability of the data.