Stanford researchers have used data mining methods to sift through consumers’ web search history and discover unreported side effects of drugs, pull information from patients' electronic medical records to reduce the rate of hospital infection, find potential matches between existing drugs and diseases, and identify important stem cell genes that previously took researchers millions of dollars and years in the lab to pinpoint.
This May at the Big Data in Biomedicine conference, scientists at Stanford will join with thought leaders across academia, industry, government and philanthropy to explore how these projects and others can capitalize on the rapidly growing amount of biomedical data to improve the practice of medicine and human health.
The conference, which is cosponsored by Stanford and Oxford University, will be held May 21-23 at the School of Medicine's Li Ka Shing Center for Learning & Knowledge. Registration is now open on the Big Data in Biomedicine website.
Delivering a keynote at the conference is Taha Kass-Hout, MD, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's first chief health informatics officer. Kass-Hout plays a critical role in enabling the FDA’s efforts to transform agency operations to respond quickly and accurately to emerging scientific, technological and economic trends affecting its regulatory mission. Additional keynote speakers include Vinod Khosla, venture capitalist and a co-founder of Sun Microsystems; David Glazer, director of engineering at Google; and Philip Bourne, PhD, associate director for data science at the National Institutes of Health.
Panel discussions will cover a range of key themes related to translating vast data sets into actionable scientific knowledge that transforms the way we diagnose, treat and prevent disease. Among the session topics are genomic medicine, devices and technology, infectious disease statistics, and machine learning and big data in health care. On the evening of May 21, attendees are invited to enjoy cocktails and appetizers while engaging with companies ranging from start-ups to industry giants at the Big Data Corporate Showcase.
The cost of the conference ranges from $300 for a single day to $750 for the full three days. Discounted rates are available for academic attendees and individuals who register by April 1. Stanford faculty, students and staff can enter their names into a lottery for the chance to attend for free.
Previously: Grant from Li Ka Shing Foundation to fund big data initiative and conference at Stanford, Big data = big finds: Clinical trial for deadly lung cancer launched by Stanford study, Big laughs at Stanford’s Big Data in Biomedicine Conference and A call to use the “tsunami of biomedical data” to preserve life and enhance health
Photo from last year’s Big Data in Biomedicine conference by Saul Bromberger
