Specification Components

The VA Specification is comprised of four key components:

1. Domain Analysis Model

  • A conceptual framework for understanding the processes and participants involved in evidence-based knowledge generation

  • Provides a foundational terminology and understanding of the domain, and shared perspective from which to approach data creation and modeling tasks

2. Core Information Model

  • A domain-agnostic information model for structuring knowledge statements and their supporting evidence and provenance.

  • Provides the foundation on which to build ‘Profiles’ that specialize the Core IM for specific statement types or data applications.

3. Profile Catalog

  • A repository of sharable and extensible Profiles, including Implementation Profiles tailored for specific data systems, and GA4GH Standard Profiles for broader community use.

  • Facilitates coordinated development of models by enabling implementers to re-use and build on existing work.

4. Reference Implementation

  • A library of software and services that demonstrate the creation, validation, and exchange of standards compliant data.

  • Provides implementers with working code to apply or adapt for their applications