Training: Querying the SPHN Metadata Catalog with SPARQL

Date & Time: 24 June 2026 (10:00-16:00)
Location: Haus der Akademien, Laupenstrasse 7, 3001 Bern
Fee: 100 CHF
Registration deadline: 17 June 2026
Capacity: 25 participants

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Overview

The Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN) Metadata Catalog is an online resource designed to help researchers discover, query, understand, and request access to health datasets available within SPHN. It provides detailed information on available datasets, including their structure and access requirements.

This full-day training introduces participants to the SPHN Metadata Catalog with a focus on programmatic access via its SPARQL endpoint. Through a combination of theory and hands-on exercises, participants will learn how to construct, refine, and execute SPARQL queries to extract metadata relevant to their research.

A particular emphasis is placed on two major SPHN data assets:

• SPHN Federated Clinical Routine Dataset – harmonized clinical data collected across Swiss university hospitals
• National Data Streams (NDS) – standardized, nationwide data flows designed to support research
  • Low Value of Care in Hospitalized Patients - a National Data Stream on Quality of Care in Swiss university hospitals (LUCID)
  • Pediatric Personalized Research Network Switzerland - a Joint Pediatric National Data Stream (SwissPedHealth)
  • Personalized, data-driven prediction and assessment of Infection related outcomes in Swiss ICUs (IICU)
  • Swiss Personalized Oncology National Data Stream (SPO-NDS)

Learning objectives

Participants will:

• Understand the structure, purpose, and content of the SPHN Metadata Catalog
• Learn the fundamentals of programmatically querying the catalog using SPARQL
• Explore advanced querying techniques, including the use of standard terminologies such as SNOMED CT
• Practice writing SPARQL queries to answer concrete research questions

Program

Morning session

• Introduction to SPHN data assets
• Overview of the SPHN Metadata Catalog
• Fundamentals of SPARQL
• Advanced querying concepts and terminology integration

Afternoon session

• Guided hands-on exercises
• Writing and executing SPARQL queries against the SPHN SPARQL endpoint
• Practical exploration of the Federated Clinical Routine Dataset and NDS
  metadata

Target audience

Researchers, data scientists or analysts who would like to discover available datasets in SPHN using structured metadata through SPARQL queries

Prerequisites

• Participants should bring a laptop
• Training language: English
• On-site participation only (no remote option)
• Knowledge or interest in learning SPARQL is recommended

Additional information

• Slides will be shared after the course
• Coffee break and lunch included

Registration

To secure your place, please register via the link below. Early registration is encouraged due to limited capacity.

Registration deadline: 17 June 2026