Institute of Genetics and Cancer

Partnership with DATA-CAN to collaborate on cancer research using health data

CRUK Edinburgh Centre investigators are delighted to be involved in new partnership between the University of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian and DATA-CAN: November 2021

Data-Can logo

The University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian recently became associate partners of DATA-CAN, the Health Data Research Hub for Cancer. DATA-CAN is a UK-wide partnership which aims to improve care and outcomes for people with cancer by making high quality health data more accessible for cancer researchers and health professionals. The University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian bring to the project a wealth of cancer research, health outcomes and data analysis expertise through the Edinburgh Economics Unit, the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, CRUK Edinburgh Centre and affiliated investigators.

Dr Peter Hall, Reader and Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, and researcher at the CRUK Edinburgh Centre has already been working closely with DATA-CAN partners, including Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, on a project to enable analysis of curated historic data from patients with early stage triple negative breast cancer with the aim of improving treatment options.

The associate partnership between DATA-CAN, the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian will build on the early triple negative breast cancer data project with further data analysis work to benefit cancer patients.

This exciting partnership formalises the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian’s work with DATA-CAN using health data research to help understand the value of new treatments for cancer patients. As a doctor I know that the appropriate use of data has enormous power to help cancer patients by improving diagnosis, treatments and outcomes. DATA-CAN is an important partnership that is unlocking the opportunities that health data research provides and I look forward to us continuing to work together to benefit patients.

Dr Peter HallUniversity of Edinburgh

I am delighted to welcome the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian to the DATA-CAN family as associate partners. As leading global institutions, they bring an array of knowledge and experience in health data research, health outcomes and value-based pricing. Initially formed by six founding partners, DATA-CAN is delighted to welcome additional associate partners into our collaboration this year. The University of Exeter joined in March and the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian followed in September. We hope that they will be the first of more associate partners to help us realise our aim of unlocking the power of cancer data to improve patient care.

Dr Charlie DavieDATA-CAN Director

DATA-CAN is the UK’s Health Data Research Hub for Cancer. Its aim is to make high quality health data more accessible for cancer researchers and health professionals, to help them carry out research into new diagnostic tools and treatments to improve care and outcomes for people with cancer. DATA-CAN is one of the Health Data Research UK research hubs and is hosted by UCLPartners. DATA-CAN was founded in 2019 by researchers in London, Belfast and Leeds. The founding partners are:

•            UCLPartners (host organisation)

•            Queen’s University Belfast

•            University of Leeds

•            Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

•            Genomics England

•            IQVIA.

The Universities of Exeter and Edinburgh and NHS Lothian joined as associate partners in 2021.

Find out more about DATA-CAN here www.data-can.org.uk

Related Links

DATA-CAN website: https://www.data-can.org.uk/

Health Data Research UK website: https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/

Dr Peter Hall profile: https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/peter-hall