Big data to revolutionize healthcare in Britain

David Cameron, together with Li Ka-shing launched a 90-million-pound initiative in big data and drug discovery on Friday at Oxford University. The newly launched Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, supported by a 20-million-pound gift from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, would help put Britain at the forefront of revolutionising healthcare through 'big data' and better drug discovery. "The new Li Ka Shing Centre will pioneer new advances in the analysis of medical data which can help scientists to better understand human disease and its treatment," David Cameron said in the launching ceremony,"This will help to further develop a strong and competitive science and research base in this country which is vital for the UK to compete and thrive in the global race." "What will happen here is more than the promise of harnessing the power of a data-intensive revolution to improve health care. The work of this centre will identify innovative ways to increase access to health care while lessening the burden of cost. It will free up resources for much needed investments in educational opportunities," said Li. The Center is being built in two, linked phases and would house up to 600 scientists when complete. In the first phase, the Target Discovery Institute has been completed and would house research generating comprehensive data about disease using genomic and chemical screens. It aims to make use of genomic and genetic medicine to more accurately identify good drug targets for industry to pursue. In the second phase, the Big Data Institute would join in to develop approaches for generating, storing and analysing large datasets in medical science for a better understanding of human disease and its treatment.