We’re excited to share that our paper – Harnessing digital footprint data for population health: a discussion on collaboration, challenges and opportunities in the UK – was published yesterday in BMJ Health & Care Informatics!
This work is the first published output of the Turing Novel Data Linkages for Health and Wellbeing Interest Group, established by Anya Skatova and Michelle Morris.
The paper discusses the vital role of collaboration between academia, industry, and policy-makers in effectively using digital footprint data in research. These partnerships are essential to harness the full potential of the data, as each stakeholder brings a unique perspective. Academics can provide rigorous methodologies, while industry partners offer access to rich data sets and technical expertise. Meanwhile, policy-makers play a crucial role in shaping the legal and ethical landscape, ensuring that data use aligns with public interests.
We also address the challenges of ethical data use, privacy, transparency, and consumer trust, emphasising the importance of engaging the public in our research. These collaborations not only enhance the quality of research, but also ensure that the outcomes are meaningful, impactful, and beneficial to society.
You can read the full paper here!