New catalyst to drive data-led research into respiratory diseases

Professor Jenni Quint will lead HDR UK’s new Respiratory Data Science Catalyst which will improve the use of respiratory data in innovative research.

Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) has launched a new Respiratory Data Science Catalyst, facilitating and accelerating health data research into chronic and acute respiratory conditions. The catalyst, will be led by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and is funded by Asthma + Lung UK.

Professor Jenni Quint, Professor of Respiratory Epidemiology in the School of Public Health at Imperial College London and an Honorary Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine, at both the Royal Brompton Hospital and Imperial College London NHS Foundation Trust will lead on the development and delivery of the catalyst’s strategy as Associate Director.

Role of health data

1 in every 5 people will have a lung condition in their lifetime, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The UK’s abundance of secure health data provides a unique opportunity to better understand causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases, helping to improve outcomes for those affected.

At present, it is difficult for researchers to access and link datasets on lung health for large-scale healthcare innovation. The Respiratory Data Science Catalyst will be pivotal in enabling the improvement of collection, storage and safe use of respiratory-related data by data controllers, to empower impactful research and inform policy.

On the launch of the catalyst Professor Quint said: “The absence of routinely available respiratory data is a significant barrier to improving the monitoring of respiratory disease and care. I’m really excited to be leading this catalyst, which will be well-placed to enable a greater focus on developing data to enable robust insights at a national scale.”

Professor Quint also chairs the development of the National Respiratory Data strategy, as part of NHS England’s respiratory programme.

Jonathan Fuld, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for respiratory disease, said: “I am delighted that NHS England has the opportunity to work collaboratively with the new HDR UK Respiratory Data Science Catalyst as part of the National Respiratory Data strategy. This work will progress the understanding of the issues facing people living with respiratory disease, the inequalities they face and the work teams are undertaking to improve their outcomes”.

Patient involvement

Patients and members of the public affected by respiratory disease will play a valuable role in decision-making, shaping research and influencing the catalyst’s areas of focus, to ensure any priorities and outputs reflect the needs of people affected by respiratory illnesses.

Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “Every five minutes, someone in the UK dies from a lung condition. And yet many of the answers, which will drive better treatment for the one in five of us who will get a lung condition, already exist. But, they are buried in large, unconnected data sets scattered throughout the health system. This has left respiratory researchers in the dark and lung research breakthroughs few and far between.

“Professor Quint’s role as Associate Director for the Respiratory Data Science Catalyst is key to make sense of data sets already available in lung research and to help answer these big questions. The partnership between HDR UK and Asthma + Lung UK, who will invest £500,000 over five years, will improve the way lung conditions are understood, diagnosed and treated."