A HISTORIC combination of six Scottish universities has been selected for a £54 million programme to improve health through better use of data.
The universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, and Strathclyde have joined together for the first time in the field of data science and have been selected to be part of a UK-wide project.
Health Data Research UK is awarding £30m to six sites across the UK – Scotland, Wales/Northern Ireland, London, Cambridge, Oxford and the Midlands – with a further £24m to be invested later to address healthcare challenges using data science.
Each of the six sites has world-class expertise and a track record in using health data to derive new knowledge, scientific discovery and insight. They will work in close partnership with NHS bodies and the public to translate research findings into benefits for patients and populations.
A statement from Health Data Research UK said: “From April this year, the six sites will work collaboratively as foundation partners in Health Data Research UK to make game-changing improvements in people’s health by harnessing data science at scale across the UK.
“Each site’s research organisations will receive long-term funding awards and will become part of a collaborative research community working together to deliver the priorities of Health Data Research UK. This initial funding is awarded following a rigorous application process, which included interviews with an international panel of experts.”
Professor Andrew Morris, director of Health Data Research UK, said the project was a unique opportunity for scientists, researchers and clinicians to use their expertise to transform the health of the population.
He said: “The six HDR UK sites, comprising 22 universities, research and NHS organisations, have tremendous individual strengths and will form a solid foundation for our long-term ambition. By working together and with NHS and industry partners to the highest ethical standards, our vision is to harness data science on a national scale.
“This will unleash the potential for data and technologies to drive breakthroughs in medical research, improving the way we are able to prevent, detect and diagnose diseases like cancer, heart disease and asthma.”
This is the first phase of investment to establish Health Data Research UK. A further £24m will be invested in upcoming activities, including a Future Talent Programme and work to address targeted data research challenges through additional partnership sites.
Health Data Research UK is a joint investment co-ordinated by the Medical Research Council, working in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, the National Institute for Health Research, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland), the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, and Wellcome.
Professor Cathie Sudlow, who will lead the project in Scotland, said the announcement aligned with recent investment in the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Deal, which aims to make Edinburgh the data science capital of Europe.
Professor Sudlow, who is Head of the Centre for Medical Informatics at the Edinburgh University’s Usher Institute, said: “This capitalises on our world-leading health and informatics research capabilities and Scotland’s exceptional data assets.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here