“Big data” and “data science” are terms we hear more and more these days. The idea that we can use these vast amounts of information to understand and analyse phenomena, and find solutions to problems, is gaining prominence, both in business and academia. Cathie Sudlow, Professor of Neurology and Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, has been at the forefront of enabling health-related research using ever-increasing datasets. She tells presenter Jim Al-Khalili why this type of research matters, how the COVID-19 pandemic changed attitudes towards data in healthcare, and why the NHS gives the UK a big advantage when it comes to population-wide studies. Over the course of her career, Cathie has held a variety of roles at different organisations, and she is currently Chief Scientist and Deputy Director at Health Data Research UK. She believes that there is no room for prima donnas in science, and wants her field to be open and collaborative, to have the most impact on patients’ lives. Produced by Florian Bohr.
Gideon Henderson on climate ‘clocks’ and dating ice ages
Deborah Greaves on wave power and offshore renewable energy
Harald Haas on making waves in light communication
Anne Ferguson-Smith on unravelling epigenetics
Anne-Marie Imafidon on fighting for diversity and equality in science
Bruce Malamud on modelling risk for natural hazards
Gillian Reid on making chemistry count
Andre Geim on levitating frogs, graphene and 2D materials
Julie Williams on Alzheimer’s disease
James Jackson on understanding earthquakes and building resilience
Marie Johnston on health psychology and the power of behavioural shifts
Julia King on manipulating metals and decarbonising transport
Danny Altmann on how T cells fight disease
Haley Gomez on cosmic dust
Adrian Smith on the power of Bayesian statistics
Clifford Johnson on making sense of black holes and movie plots
Rebecca Kilner on beetle behaviours and evolution
Pam Shaw on the research battle against motor neurone disease
Chris Elliott on fighting food fraud
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