WMG, at the University of Warwick, is a key partner in the Midlands site helping to deliver a £30 million project by Health Data Research UK, to address challenging UK healthcare issues using data science, which is looking at making game-changing improvements in people’s health by harnessing data science at scale across the UK.

WMG will be part of the “Midlands HDR UK Substantive Site”, which will tackle the challenge of how to make NHS data more useable and accessible for research; and will develop, evaluate and apply appropriate analytical tools to NHS data in real time in order to inform decision making and improve health for both the patient and population. The Institute of Digital Healthcare (IDH), WMG will lead the Warwick part of the programme, together with colleagues from Warwick Medical School and Warwick’s Mathematics Institute.

Theo Arvanitis Professor of e-Health Innovation and Head of Research at the Institute of Digital Healthcare (IDH), WMG, who will lead Warwick’s participation in the programme said: “This is a unique opportunity to develop health data science in the UK and we are delighted to be part of the project. At IDH, our team of experts which includes my colleagues in data science Professor Giovanni Montana and Professor Mehrdad Dianati, will be engaging in the programme of research that will be making NHS data (particularly secondary care data and biobank data safely and comprehensively discoverable for research). We will also be developing, evaluating and applying appropriate analytical tools to these data, in real time, in order to inform decision making and improve health for both the patient and population.”

The IDH brings together a rich and long pedigree of knowledge, in interconnectivity, interoperability and deployment of innovative health data driven solutions. It has delivered solutions at multiple maturity levels (from lab-based innovation to product deployment), and has established collaboration with major actors in the healthcare industry, including trusts, healthcare IT and medical device companies as well as patient forums and regulators.

Professor Andrew Morris, Director of Health Data Research UK, commented: “I am delighted to make today’s announcement, which marks the start of a unique opportunity for scientists, researchers and clinicians to use their collective expertise to transform the health of the population”.

Professor Simon Ball (Director of Digital Healthcare at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Site Director for the Midlands) said: “The Midlands HDR UK Substantive Site award is hugely exciting, not just for our academic and NHS partners, but also for our patients. By bringing together excellence in research and healthcare informatics and data science across Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham and Warwick, we have a unique opportunity for innovation to improve diagnosis, refine prognosis and personalise treatment for patients regionally and nationally"

Note for editors:

Health Data Research UK is a joint investment co-ordinated by the Medical Research Council, working in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, the Department of Health and Social Care (England), the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Health and Social Care Research and Development Division (Welsh Government), , Scottish Ministers acting through their Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, and Wellcome. For further details, please visit the Health Data Research UK website.

Institute of Digital Healthcare

The Institute of Digital Healthcare was established in 2010 and is a five year £4m collaboration located in the International Digital Laboratory on the Central Campus of the University of Warwick.

The IDH aims to improve people’s health and wellbeing through the use of innovative digital technologies.

Our objective is to improve the quality, safety, accessibility and productivity of healthcare by supporting the implementation of digital solutions for the public, patients and professionals, underpinned by rigorous multi-disciplinary research, development and evaluation. Our model of research-led innovation in healthcare entails identifying relevant theories, selecting appropriate technologies and developing new solutions where necessary. Each solution then needs rigorous evaluation for safety, effectiveness and cost implications before promotion to healthcare systems.

WMG

As an academic department of at the University of Warwick since 1980, we are passionate about manufacturing, innovation and technology.

Our work is changing the world around us. We research, develop, advise, train and collaborate; with businesses and organisations across the globe, large and small, to solve their challenges.

We champion and support young engineers, scientists and technologists because we care about their future and want to make a real difference to tomorrow.

For further information please contact:

Lisa Barwick - Head of Marketing & Communications, WMG
Tel: 024 7652 4721 or 07824 540845
Email: L.Barwick@warwick.ac.uk