Healthcare Enhancement And Learning Through Worldwide Interoperable Systems and Equity
Founding Principles
Background
Our partnership has formed around a common understanding for how international data analyses should be undertaken. For those with data, there is a duty to maintain the confidentiality and privacy. Equally there is a duty to ensure data can be utilised in research to further our understanding of diseases. Global collaboration is critical.
Enable
Global research is currently constrained. Even simple analyses to understand prevalence of disease between countries is incredibly complex. We must enable researchers and policy makers to utilise the data within our healthcare systems. The technology exists to allow such analyses whilst ensuring the data is secured, kept confidential, and is not shared to anyone. This type of analysis is known as federated analytics and when Artificial Intelligence is involved this is known as federated learning. The technology is ready for adoption, today, but what is lacking is the alignment between the technology and the governance frameworks.
We want to enable global insights and research so that we can learn from the global healthcare systems.
Empower
There are clear and genuine governance concerns in the use of data in healthcare research. Whilst technology does exist that can make global and federated analyses possible, some solutions take away local control and it is devolved to the platform. There are approaches that have been developed in the UK as part of the DARE UK programme that have emphasised that you can facilitate federated analyses and federated learning without asking the data controller to simply surrender their oversight.
We want to empower governance such that it remains in control whilst enabling.
Equity
Our shared principles can transform healthcare research. As with all technology innovation, we must be incredibly mindful that our actions do not exclude. Whilst we recognise the privileged position of this consortium to form and be able to be part of a global network, researchers from some countries cannot be. As we push the boundaries, we will ensure that researchers from non-partner countries can access this network by having that embedded into our data governance work. Equally, we must not develop an infrastructure that is one of ‘helicopter science’ and will feature heavily in under our empower principle.
We want to ensure those that are currently excluded can themselves be enabled and empowered by our principle of equity.
Leadership team
The University of Nottingham are the coordinating University under their role in Health Data Research UK. They have brought this exciting and compelling group together having led work in the UK before in the federated of biobanks and having co-lead the federated analytics project in DARE UK called TRE-FX. As a member of ELIXIR UK they are keen to see the adoption of existing know-how, tools and standards from the life sciences sector being applied to the healthcare domain.
Dr. Philip Quinlan is the Director of Health Informatics at the School of Medicine.
The University of Queensland are pioneers in digital health and have a new federated learning programme established, called NINA. HEALTHWISE initiated from a meeting hosted in Queensland in February 2023 when Dr. Quinlan was invited to attend their workshop. Their global outlook and national programmes, as well as an acute awareness of local governance concerns is vital for HEALTHWISE.
Prof. Sullivan is the Director of the new Queensland Digital Health Centre within the Centre for Health Research at The University of Queensland.
SeRP are a global provider of Trusted Research Environments and have dozens in the UK as well as their international installations in Canada and Australia. They are also leaders in the advancement of innovation in infrastructure, and led the TELEPORT project from the DARE UK programme that demonstrate the empowerment that can occur when providing a secure networking capability between TREs.
Prof. Thompson is the Co-Director of SeRP and SAIL at the University of Swansea.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) in Singapore is a leading government agency that fosters scientific research and innovation. It supports economic growth by driving advancements in various fields, including biomedical sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. ASTAR collaborates with both public and private sectors to transform scientific discoveries into practical applications, boosting Singapore’s competitive edge globally. Through its extensive network of research institutes and programs, A*STAR plays a crucial role in nurturing talent and developing a knowledge-based economy.
The Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS) in Brazil is a renowned research institution focused on leveraging big data to address public health challenges. It integrates and analyzes vast datasets to generate insights and solutions aimed at improving health outcomes and policy-making. CIDACS collaborates with various national and international organizations to enhance its research capabilities and impact. By utilizing advanced data science techniques, CIDACS plays a pivotal role in tackling health inequalities and promoting sustainable development in Brazil.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa is a prestigious institution known for its academic excellence and vibrant research culture. Established in 1829, UCT is the oldest university in South Africa and consistently ranks among the top universities in Africa. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, attracting a diverse student body from across the globe. UCT is committed to addressing societal challenges through innovative research, social responsibility, and fostering inclusive education.
Tohoku University in Japan is a distinguished institution recognized for its strong emphasis on research and innovation. Founded in 1907, it is one of Japan’s oldest and most respected universities, consistently ranking among the top in the country. Tohoku University offers a broad spectrum of academic programs and is renowned for its pioneering work in fields such as materials science, disaster science, and regenerative medicine. The university is dedicated to fostering global partnerships and contributing to society through cutting-edge research and education.