New Delhi: Researchers from the Queen’s University Belfast and several Indian institutions have decided to come together for “joint data science and digital health projects” that will cover areas like pandemic threats, artificial intelligence and genomic analysis in cancer.
The UK institute will partner with the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, among others for the project.
A press release by Queen’s University Belfast released Thursday said, “Together, the scientists will look at several new research possibilities to unlock the power of ‘big data’ to enhance outcomes in disease such as cancer and eye disease, while also addressing some of the complex ethical issues that the use of big data raises.”
Big data refers to a field that treats ways to analyse and extract information from large and complex collections of data.
Also read: India beats China at its own game in vaccine diplomacy battle
Using big data in healthcare
The researchers have said that the partnership is intended to use big data to unlock “highly effective solutions to global health challenges”.
The press release quotes Mark Lawler, pro vice-chancellor and professor of Digital Health at Queen’s University, as saying, “Big data could make better and earlier diagnoses, reduce the cost of treatments, predict disease outbreaks, among many other uses. This is a significant development for our University, for the UK and for India as a whole. In the world of big data, we both have a lot to offer, but together we are unbeatable.”
Deputy British High Commissioner to India Jan Thompson also said, “Big data is a priority for both our countries and this dialogue is a significant step towards harnessing the talent that experts in our two countries have. I know that the partnerships being forged through such dialogue have the potential to bring great benefit to the people of India, UK, and the entire world.”
Also read: Covid ‘X Men’ — the 7,000+ mutations in India, how to understand them & where they came from