DATA-CAN welcomes the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian as associate partners

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 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 in Cancer Informatics and Health Economics at the University of Edinburgh and Honorary Consultant Medical Oncologist at NHS Lothian 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.

DATA-CAN Director, Dr Charlie Davie, said,

“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 Peter Hall of the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian said,

“This exciting partnership formalises the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian’swork with DATA-CAN using health data research to help improve treatment options for breast 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 collaboration that is unlocking the opportunities that health data research provides and I look forward to us continuing to work together to benefit patients.”

Find out more about DATA-CAN’s partners.