Nicole Keller is a lecturer at the Institute for Translation and Interpreting at the University of Heidelberg. She holds a degree in English and Spanish (2000) and a PhD (2007). At the university, she teaches specialised medical translation between English and German. Her other focus is on computer-assisted translation tools, including translation memory systems, terminology databases, machine translation and post-editing as well as artificial intelligence. In addition to her academic work, she works as a freelance translator specialising in medicine. She is also a member of the board of the “Deutsche Terminologie-Tag” and is primarily responsible for the editorial work of the “edition”.

At MedTranslate 2025, Nicole Keller will present on navigating medical terminology: insights into MedDRA and SNOMED CT. Here is the detailed abstract of her session:

MedDRA (Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities) and SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine, Clinical Terms) are two essential medical terminology databases each with its specific focus and language coverage.

MedDRA, developed by the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH), is a medical terminology database used in the field of drug regulation. It provides a standardized collection of terms that facilitate consistent international communication between regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical companies, as well as enabling automated data transmission.

SNOMED CT, maintained by the IHTSDO (International Health Terminology Standards Development Organization), is currently the world’s largest collection of clinical terms. It serves as a universal database for the systematic recording and description of medical facts such as symptoms, findings, and diagnoses. The system combines a formal ontology with a multilingual terminology system: the ontology facilitates an organized representation of medical terms using language-independent codes, and the terminology system contains standardized designations for these terms.

The structure and content of both MedDRA and SNOMED CT differ significantly from traditional terminology databases. Practical examples will illustrate the search and application potential of these medical terminology databases in real-world scenarios.

This overview will also explore their respective search functionalities, unique features, and applications in translation, particularly from English into German.

Check out the MedTranslate detailed conference programme under https://medtransconf.com/programme/ (please note that due to cancellations, the programme might still be subject to small changes)

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