New appointment in Health Informatics in LIDA

Professor Chris Gale has been appointed as Interim Co-Director of Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA).

Since LIDA’s inception five years ago, the technology and data landscape has evolved very rapidly. Professor Gale will lead the development of a new vision for biomedical informatics and the supporting infrastructure. Chris will initially take up the post for a minimum of six months while a full time Chair of Health Informatics is recruited.

Professor Gale said: “I am delighted to take on this important role at this critical time in health data research – Leeds has real strength in data analytics and this is an excellent opportunity to build on the great work to date and create a world-leading centre. Given the increasing volume and availability of population-wide structured and unstructured health information, the reality of data driven discovery for patient benefit is upon us.”

Professor Gale is Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine and Head of Clinical and Population Sciences at the Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM). Professor Gale’s research incorporates the efficient use of observational and randomised data to deliver population-based studies of cardiovascular quality of care and clinical outcomes. This includes the use of multi-source electronic health records for trial design, outcomes capture and taxonomy of cardiovascular survivorship. He holds major research awards predominantly from the National Institute for Health Research and the British Heart Foundation, and has published over 140 research manuscripts in peer reviewed journals, including Journal of the American Medical Association, Lancet, British Medical Journal and European Heart Journal. He is honorary Consultant Cardiologist at Leeds General Infirmary where he practices clinical cardiology with particular interests in general cardiology, post myocardial infarction survivorship, and chronic heart failure.

Professor Lisa Roberts, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research & Innovation said: “We are delighted to have an academic of Chris’ standing take this role on at such a critical time. Data analytics in general, and LIDA in particular, are of fundamental importance to the University’s research strategy that increasingly focusses on challenge-led themes. The application of advanced analytical approaches to health and societal data is a key part of this”.