Data Science and Population Health

This Theme’s Focus

Genomics in healthcare
Therapeutic target prioritisation
Addressing multimorbidity through data-driven studies
Risk prediction and screening

Large population studies investigating the links between genetics and disease, such as the 100,000 Genomes Project, NIHR BioResource and the UK BioBank have created huge amounts of data on health and disease and further studies large and small continue to create valuable data every day. The rapidly increasing availability of complex health data provides an exceptional opportunity to transform health outcomes at individual and population levels as well as to enhance healthcare efficiency.

The goal of the Data Science and Population Health theme is to make use of these enormous amounts of data to improve early detection and prevention of heart attacks, strokes, dementia, infections and cancers in the UK over the next decade. Working with other themes across the NIHR Cambridge BRC, we will develop, evaluate and distribute complementary computational systems and tools that can identify and interpret important, usable patterns hidden in large, diverse and constantly growing biomedical data sets.

Our efforts and tools will help us to understand the early origins of disease, identify promising targets for intervention and untangle the complexities of multimorbidity, ultimately improving the lives of people living with multiple long-term conditions.

We are building the infrastructure, expertise and oversight framework that will allow us to maintain and enhance our international leadership in this field, as well as reflect our strong values: promoting equity and avoiding bias in healthcare, embedding patients and public representatives in our leadership and operational structures, and ensuring our research benefits underserved and marginalised communities.

Theme Leads

Michael Inouye

Director of Research in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Cambridge Baker Systems Genomics Initiative.
Email: mi336@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Professor Angela Wood

Professor of Health Data Science in the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Cambridge.
Email: amw79@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Meet our researchers

The Data Science and Population Health theme will address two overarching research questions:

How can research in biostatistics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) be used equitably and at scale to improve healthcare in diverse settings?

How can a “molecule to e-health record” strategy combining multiple kinds information (such as genetics, imaging, test results and health records) from millions of UK individuals, improve understanding, treatment and prediction of multi-morbidity and disease?

For more Information

You can watch previous talks from our research teams on YouTube.

Read about ‘Behind the Curtain’ where a piece of research was turned into theatrical production and post-show discussion looking at the health information hidden in your DNA. The piece is available to watch online or you can read the paper.

Latest News

Genomics lab reading samples - NIHR Cambridge BRC image

Research collaboration offers new polygenic score insights in type 2 diabetes and related co-morbidities

March 11, 2025

An on-campus collaboration between NIHR Cambridge BRC-funded…

Green and blue poster showing Earth and DNA strand

Polygenic Score Catalog increases diversity and usability of genetic data

October 3, 2024

A paper highlighting changes to the Polygenic Score (PGS)…

Photo by National Cancer Institute on unsplash.com

‘Gene misbehaviour’ widespread in healthy population

July 25, 2024

NIHR Cambridge BRC researchers have been involved in a major…

Photo of Angela Wood - wearing a blue top and necklace

Prestigious NIHR Research Professorship awarded to Cambridge researcher

November 23, 2023

Congratulations to co-theme lead for the NIHR Cambridge BRC Data Science and Population Health theme, Professor Angela Wood, who has been awarded an NIHR research professorship.

Square image with 4 males, 2 above and 2 below

Cambridge researchers listed among world’s most influential researchers

November 21, 2022

Congratulations to our NIHR Cambridge BRC theme leads who have been named in the Clarivate listings of the ‘world’s most influential researchers.’

Person typing code into laptop: Free for use under the Pixabay Content Licence.

World first for AI and machine learning to treat Covid patients worldwide

September 15, 2021

Researchers across the world have used artificial intelligence to predict Covid patients’ oxygen needs on a global scale.

Researchers talk in person and online to Long Road College students about their work - the students' faces have been blurred to protect their identity.

What does a career in health research look like? Our researchers share their work with local sixth-form students

March 11, 2025

Students at Long Road Sixth-Form College in Cambridge were last…

Research collaboration offers new polygenic score insights in type 2 diabetes and related co-morbidities

March 11, 2025

An on-campus collaboration between NIHR Cambridge BRC-funded…

Blue helix: This image was purchased from Abobe Stock with a lifetime usage.

Predicting risk of cancer, heart attacks and other diseases using DNA

October 16, 2024

The human genome (the complete set of genetic information in…

Image of risk calculator to predict risk of heart attack and stroke

New risk calculators to predict people at high risk of heart attacks and stroke

October 16, 2024

Cambridge-led working groups and the European Society of…

Informing healthcare policy with COVID-19 data

October 16, 2024

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has resulted in more than 235 million…

Screening and Treatment for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

October 16, 2024

Cambridge researchers led a randomised trial to see whether…

Laptop with notepad: Image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay.

Reviewing the NHS Health Check programme

October 16, 2024

The NHS Health Check programme was introduced across England…

Using machine learning to model older adult inpatient trajectories from electronic health records data

January 17, 2023

Factors Associated with Significant Weight Loss in Hospitalised Patients with COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Large Teaching Hospital

November 23, 2022

Unquantifiably low aldosterone concentrations are prevalent in hospitalised COVID-19 patients but may not be revealed by chemiluminescent immunoassay

August 30, 2022

Difficulty and help with activities of daily living among older adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-country population-based study

March 31, 2022

Validation of the 4C Deterioration Model for COVID-19 in a UK teaching hospital during Wave 2

November 16, 2021

The NIHR Cambridge BRC is part of the NIHR and hosted by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Cambridge. We are at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Europe’s largest health research area.

Bluesky

Contact Us

Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre
Box 277
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ

Tel: 01223 348490

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

13 Feb

What is #Research #Culture and why should you be interested in it? Why not come along and find out...Thursday 27 February 16.15 - 18.00 ⬇️⬇️
Book Now >> patojomcpeake@thisinstitute.cam.ac.uk
@Cambridge_Uni @CUH_NHS @THIS_Institute

Reply on Twitter 1890067126679163351 Retweet on Twitter 1890067126679163351 Like on Twitter 1890067126679163351 Twitter 1890067126679163351

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

13 Feb

New #research from Cambridge @Cambridge_Uni shows the need to prioritise #vaccine boosters for those with weakned immune systems to #prevent emergence of new #Covid variants.
@CUH_NHS @NIHRresearch @Gates_Cambridge #vasculitisUK

>> To find out more:

Reply on Twitter 1890034902571339816 Retweet on Twitter 1890034902571339816 2 Like on Twitter 1890034902571339816 6 Twitter 1890034902571339816

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

12 Feb

Involved in research? Whatever your role/discipline, please spend 15-20 mins filling out a survey https://bit.ly/41aZ69J from @EthicsSciPublicKavli at @Cambridge_Uni on science engagement with the public? @CamUniEngage @engageWCS @StellenboschUni @CUH_NHS

Reply on Twitter 1889650882251284935 Retweet on Twitter 1889650882251284935 2 Like on Twitter 1889650882251284935 3 Twitter 1889650882251284935

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

11 Feb

Happy #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience
To commemorate this annual celebration, we interviewed three women from our Cambridge BRC. Look out for Rona Smith's full interview on our website in the coming days..
@CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @NIHRresearch @UNESCO @WomenScienceDay

Reply on Twitter 1889373404295279019 Retweet on Twitter 1889373404295279019 Like on Twitter 1889373404295279019 3 Twitter 1889373404295279019

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

11 Feb

Happy #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience
For this global celebration of women in science, we interviewed 3 women from our Cambridge BRC. Look out for Jo McPeake's interview on our website in the coming days
@CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @NIHRresearch @UNESCO @WomenScienceDay

Reply on Twitter 1889372716592963658 Retweet on Twitter 1889372716592963658 1 Like on Twitter 1889372716592963658 5 Twitter 1889372716592963658

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

11 Feb

Happy #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience
To celebrate this global day, we interviewed three women from our Cambridge BRC. Look out for Deborah's full interview on our website in the coming days..
@CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @NIHRresearch @BEARS_CI @UNESCO @WomenScienceDay

Reply on Twitter 1889370490432639371 Retweet on Twitter 1889370490432639371 2 Like on Twitter 1889370490432639371 4 Twitter 1889370490432639371

View more Tweets

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Data Science and Population Health

This Theme’s Focus

Theme Leads

Michael Inouye

Professor Angela Wood

The Data Science and Population Health theme will address two overarching research questions:

For more Information

Latest News

Research collaboration offers new polygenic score insights in type 2 diabetes and related co-morbidities

Polygenic Score Catalog increases diversity and usability of genetic data

‘Gene misbehaviour’ widespread in healthy population

Prestigious NIHR Research Professorship awarded to Cambridge researcher

Cambridge researchers listed among world’s most influential researchers

World first for AI and machine learning to treat Covid patients worldwide