Paving the way for innovative care options
Advancements in data and intelligence within LS are paving the way for innovative care options, such as precision treatments. However, with the enhanced ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data comes the responsibility to support and further health equity. In 2023 and beyond, the application of new data methods will need to be balanced by an appreciation for and adoption of consistent data stewardship.
The FAIR principles of data management and stewardship were introduced in 2016; since then, several research groups have made significant efforts to interpret, adopt and implement these principles. In more recent years, the science community has seen the use of various techniques under AI, such as deep learning, that have been responsible for evolving image analysis and natural language processing. As new techniques and methods are created to identify patterns over time, the datasets generated via AI need to be FAIR. Plus, the use of FAIR principles is no longer limited to the data—they are also relevant to the creation of models and the dissemination of research data to enable analyses to be replicated, and importantly, discoveries to be validated in additional patient cohorts.
With advancements in research and innovation, many LS companies have taken the engineering concept of a “digital twin” and applied it to R&D, manufacturing, supply chain and more. According to IBM, the technology allows users to develop an exact virtual replica of a physical entity or process. The combination of big data, AI, and IoT is underpinning digital twins for various LS applications, including precision diagnosis and treatments[1]. Digital twins have the potential to fundamentally change how we learn, do research, and, eventually, care for patients. As companies look to create their own digital twins, the role of FAIR principles in setting the foundational blocks will become more important.
Deepti Cole
What's next in experience?
[1] Sun T, He X, Song X, Shu L, Li Z. The Digital Twin in Medicine: A Key to the Future of Healthcare? Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Jul 14;9:907066. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.907066. PMID: 35911407; PMCID: PMC9330225.