THE QUANTIFICATION OF THE HUMAN CONDITION - HOW BIG DATA TECHNOLOGIES ARE CHANGING THE PRACTICE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH IN THE UK

Big data is driving a revolution in the speed and extent of data applications, which are affecting every aspect of our lives. In medicine, the benefits of transformative research and innovation driven by data, are much vaunted, as new knowledge becomes accessible for the first time. However, legitimate concerns, such as social sorting and discrimination, which go beyond simple data privacy and security issues must be addressed if we are to fully realize the benefits of big data. It is imperative that whilst we embrace the benefits of big data technologies we also strive to understand the wider implications for society of these tools and techniques. This research will for the first time explore the societal impacts of big data in medicine and in doing so promote understanding of how balance can be achieved between individual protection and public benefit in the context of this new and potentially transformative digital technology.