Imperial College AHSC Seminar Series kicks off with big data and healthcare
Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) has launched a new seminar series with an event on how big data is changing healthcare.
Experts from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College discussed the implications of big data for healthcare now and in the future, at the first of three seminars bringing the work of the AHSC to life.
The Imperial College AHSC is a unique partnership between Imperial College London, and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Its aim is to improve patient outcomes by harnessing scientific discoveries and translating them as quickly as possible into new diagnostics, devices and therapies for patients, in the NHS and beyond.
By pairing together researchers at Imperial College London and clinicians at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the seminar series will present examples of how research evolves from hypotheses, into innovative approaches, to patient treatment and care.
Professor Jonathan Weber, Director of Research at Imperial College AHSC, said:
"The seminar series is designed to communicate the achievements of the AHSC and what it means to be part of an AHSC to staff and patients. It is a programme of themed lectures to showcase the AHSC’s work so people can hear about the breakthroughs and new thinking that are shaping the future directly from those leading the work. This is important, exciting work and we want even more of our staff and patients to become involved."
How big data is changing healthcare
The first talk was delivered by Professor Ian Adcock, Professor of Respiratory Cell & Molecular Biology at Imperial College and Dr Sanjay Gautama, Caldicott Guardian and chief clinical information officer at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Prof Adcock explained how big data can be used to personalise the diagnosis and treatment of severe asthma. This follows a Europe-wide research project which improved understanding about the different types of severe asthma with the view to uncovering information that could lead to the creation of effective new treatments
Dr Gautama spoke about the delivery of the Care Information Exchange programme which provides online access to medical records for patients, service users and their health and social care teams in north west London. One of its main aims is to give patients a greater sense of control, and the opportunity to participate more actively in their own care.
Future seminar
The next two seminars in the series will look at healthcare innovations to keep joints working and the spread of infectious diseases, respectively. Register to attend the second seminar on Monday 25 July. Seminar three takes place on 20 September, venue and registration details are to be confirmed.
Notes to editors
Big data is a term used to describe extremely large data sets that may be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behaviour and interactions.
