The UCL Institute of Health Informatics

Health data is increasing in size and complexity and the UK has some of the richest health data in the world. At the UCL Institute of Health Informatics, we specialise in utilising this data to develop a better understanding of diseases on a national and international scale. The Institute is home to a unique range of research expertise and outstanding talent resulting in highly impactful research using large scale data and advanced analytics.

Lockdown ease could lead to tens of thousands of excess deaths unless vulnerable are protected

BAME groups two to three times more likely to die from Covid-19 than the general population

COVID-19 emergency could lead to 18,000 more deaths in people with cancer

COVID-19 pandemic

Harnessing health data to address key clinical questions to help save lives has never been more urgent. In a global public health emergency such as the one we are currently facing, rapid and safe access to UK health data is vital to be able to undertake research that will inform government policy around public behavior and clinical guidelines to treat patients. Our latest research:

Our Vision

The UCL Institute of Health Informatics uses and creates data to advance the science preventing sickness and improving disease outcomes. Our world-leading research and education offering are immediately applicable for decision makers, including those developing and evaluating novel interventions. The data, methods and tools we develop at the Institue directly impact the decision making of clinicians and patients, health care organisations, drug developers, and public policy makers.

By building bridges between data science and health, we bring a rigorous approach to research and education at a local, national and international level to encourage the development of new technology and commercial opportunities. We see this emerging field of data science for health as ‘diverse data for diverse research questions, delivered by diverse research and technical disciplines’. Our existing projects use data from electronic health records, administrative data, genomics and multi-omics, mobile and wearable devices, and publicly available data.

Our Aims

To carry out high quality research particularly where the scale or detail of data allows scientific advance coupled to relevance for decision makers.
To build underpinning research capability - the methods and tools - for working with diverse forms of health data.
To disseminate our research and education through a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training opportunities relevant to health professionals and health services providers.
To develop our staff as an emerging generation of data scientists for health, equipped to deliver successful inter-disciplinary team science.
To grow national and international collaborations, starting with new partnerships across UCL, other London universities and our local NHS Trusts.

Research Themes

We are developing coordinated interdisciplinary programmes of research using Electronic Health Records across the areas of Discovery Science, Precision Medicine, Public Health, Learning Health Systems and Citizen Driven Health.

Diseases

The Institute works across clinical disease areas, including: cardiovascular disease, infection, cancer, mental health, ENT and neurodegeneration.

Study

We offer a range of flexible taught and research postgraduate study programmes which combine theory with practice.

Directory of Expertise

Our staff at IHI work across a number of research areas, ranging from applied artificial intelligence to unstructured data and natural language...

Publications

We use big data and health informatics approaches to improve health at local, national and international levels.

Data Lab

The CALIBER research platform consists of highly trained staff, data resources and tools, specialised infrastructure, and training and support. Find out more about the Data lab and the CALIBER resource.

Athena SWAN

At the UCL IHI we are committed to the principles and beliefs of the Athena SWAN Charter.

We aim to improve working conditions and create a working environment that supports all staff equally. Our action plan addresses priorities and initiatives across five key priority areas:

support for students;
support for staff at key career transition points;
recruitment, promotion and retention of female staff and students;
career breaks, workload and flexible working; and
culture, communication and departmental organisation.

Find out more about our Athena Swan activities as well as what staff and students think about working and studying at the Institute in relation to culture, attitudes and support by visiting the UCL IHI Athena Swan webpage. Or watch the video about working and studying at IHI

The UCL Institute of Health Informatics

Lockdown ease could lead to tens of thousands of excess deaths unless vulnerable are protected

BAME groups two to three times more likely to die from Covid-19 than the general population

COVID-19 emergency could lead to 18,000 more deaths in people with cancer

IHI response to the COVID-19 pandemic