Phenotype harmonization starts with an inventory of phenotypes that investigators are interested in pursuing during cross-study analyses. For consortia involving only a few studies, or for consortia in which all studies have a common interest (e.g. stroke), this may only require a review of data collected by different studies and discussion among investigators. For collaborations such as GENEVA that incorporate studies of various designs and diverse outcomes of interest, a more extensive (formal survey) process is required.
