There are more 1 billion prescriptions dispensed annually across the UK, making it one of the largest costs for the NHS – but it’s also an opportunity. Data science has the potential to transform medicine and healthcare, but the lack of expertise in our clinical workforce threatens progress.
Led by University of Liverpool in partnership with the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds and Strathclyde, the MEDATA PhD programme will train a new generation of Clinician Data Scientists from a range of healthcare professions.
Professor Sir Andrew Morris, Director of HDR UK, said:
“We stand at the threshold of a remarkable new era in medicine. The convergence of digital, physical and biological technologies is transforming how we understand disease — and, crucially, how we treat it. Therapeutics remain our most powerful tool for alleviating suffering and saving lives, and the medicines and treatments of tomorrow will be shaped by our ability to harness the extraordinary power of health data today.
“MEDATA will help ensure we have the talented, skilled people needed to make that happen — turning data into discovery, and discovery into better outcomes for patients everywhere.”
The programme will focus on medicines-related data science, training fellows to analyse trained large, complex datasets that can support the discovery of new medicines and improve the use of existing treatments.
Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, David Weatherall Chair of Medicine, NHS Chair of Pharmacogenetics and co-director of the HDR UK Medicines in Acute and Chronic Care Driver Programme, said:
“Data science is rapidly changing the way we understand disease and develop treatments, but we need healthcare professionals who can bridge the worlds of clinical practice and advanced analytics.
“MEDATA will create a new generation of clinician data scientists, equipped to use complex health data to improve medicines development and patient care. We are delighted to lead this outstanding partnership and help build the research workforce needed for the future of healthcare.”
The programme has received £12 million in funding from Wellcome and a further £1 million from HDR UK to provide vital project support and a dedicated studentship. It brings together internationally recognised expertise to provide trainee-centred support, including bespoke mentoring and career development opportunities, to equip healthcare professionals for a data-driven future.
Professor John Danesh, BHF Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine at the University of Cambridge, Director for the Health Data Research UK-Cambridge region and joint Director for the HDR UK Molecules to Health Records Research Driver Programme, said:
“MEDATA is a bold approach for doctoral training, bringing together outstanding expertise from clinical medicine, population health, data science, statistics and AI to tackle some of the most important challenges in healthcare. By combining disciplinary excellence with a sharp focus on real-world impact, this programme will equip the next generation of clinician data scientists to transform research and improve patients’ lives.”
Read the full press release
