Project description
Training researchers in large data analysis
European researchers have significantly contributed to the large genomic, transcriptomic and clinical data sets assembled from patients with chronic diseases. Advances in information science provide opportunities for increased use of these data sets. However, few researchers have the needed informatics skills and knowledge of the latest data protection principles. The EU-funded HELICAL project will develop an interdisciplinary training programme for 15 PhD students. It will use autoimmune vasculitis as a paradigm to provide training in data analysis. The 36-month training programme will focus on the application of informatics to such data sets to gain new biological insights as well as the translation of biological into practical clinical outputs. It also aims to develop strategies to manage the ethical constraints imposed on such studies.
Objective
European researchers have made leading contributions to the large genomic, transcriptomic and clinical datasets from patients with chronic diseases. Advances in information science provide unprecedented opportunities for using these datasets to elucidate the complex biology of these disorders, its influence by environmental triggers, and to personalise their management. Currently, exploitation of these opportunities is limited by a shortage of researchers with the required informatics skills and knowledge of requisite data protection principles. HELICAL addresses this unmet need by developing a trans-sectoral and interdisciplinary training programme that builds on the expertise and existing collaborations of its partners. It provides 15 early stage researchers with training in analysis of large datasets, using autoimmune vasculitis as a paradigm as it is scalable, and as comprehensive biological and clinical datasets are already available. The HELICAL training program focuses on three complementary areas: application of informatics to such datasets to gain new biological insights; translation of these into practical clinical outputs and management of ethical constraints imposed on such studies. The programme will be delivered through a multidisciplinary, trans-sectoral partnership of Academic and Industry researchers with expertise in basic biomedical research, epidemiology, statistics, machine learning, health data governance and ethics. Therefore, HELICAL exploits recent advances in data science to link research datasets with longitudinal healthcare records, based on the robust ethical foundation required for linkage studies using near-patient data, to address key experimental questions. The results will have obvious potential for transforming healthcare in the field of autoimmune disease. The training provided addresses a key skills gap in the European workforce and should make the ESR eminently employable in academic, industrial and clinical sectors.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputer securitydata protection
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyautoimmune diseases
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencemachine learning
Keywords
Programme(s)
Coordinator
D02 CX56 DUBLIN 2
Ireland
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Participants (14)
Participation ended
75006 Paris
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08036 Barcelona
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28006 Madrid
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LS2 9JT Leeds
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08036 Barcelona
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1090 Wien
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100 44 Stockholm
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08007 Barcelona
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1020 Wien
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
68330 Huningue
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
9860 OOSTERZELE
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G12 8QQ Glasgow
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8803 Rueschlikon
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9007 St. Gallen
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Partners (10)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
751 05 Uppsala
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
9000 Gent
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
116 36 Praha 1
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
39011 Santander
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
CB10 1DR Cambridge
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
08007 Barcelona
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
75015 Paris
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
D08P X8H Dublin
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.