PROMOTE project builds momentum in advancing biomedical data science careers
A year on from announcing LIDA: Health’s success in securing MRC Biomedical Data Science Leadership funding, the project - now officially named PROMOTE: Progressing Routes and Opportunities through Mentoring, Openness, Training, and Equity for biomedical data scientists - has entered an exciting new phase of delivery.
PROMOTE aims to improve career progression pathways and leadership opportunities for biomedical data scientists, with a strong focus on mentoring, equity, and collaboration across academia, industry, and health sectors.
Building strong foundations
Since the project’s inception, the PROMOTE team has achieved several key milestones. In June 2025, Jess Shilton joined as Researcher, bringing new energy and expertise to the project from career consultancy roles from various universities. Ethical approval for PROMOTE’s research activities was granted in late August, paving the way for data collection and engagement with the wider biomedical data science community.
PROMOTE has also strengthened ties with other MRC Data Science Leadership projects across the UK, including ABDC (The Alan Turing Institute & EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute), BIOMEDESA (University of Liverpool), HxC (University of Edinburgh, Health Data Research UK & UK Dementia Research Institute), and INTEGRATE (University of Oxford).
Together, the projects have established national working groups to address key themes such as the development of a Code of Conduct, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Stakeholder Engagement, and Mentoring. Leeds is leading the Mentoring Working Group, with Kylie Norman providing specialist consultancy support from her experience with managing the LIDA Data Scientist Development Programme.
LIDA’s team has also met with industry partners featured in last year’s funding announcement to discuss how organisations can help shape the next phase of the project. In addition, PROMOTE has launched a new website (see below), providing updates, resources, and opportunities for collaboration.
The PROMOTE team has recently completed a series of co-creation focus groups. These sessions brought together biomedical data scientists, academics, and industry professionals to co-design the project’s survey and interview themes.
Dr. David Westhead, Professor of Bioinformatics at the University of Leeds, said, “We’re really excited about how PROMOTE is helping to connect biomedical data scientists across the UK. By working together, we’re not only identifying challenges in career development but co-creating practical solutions that make the sector more inclusive and sustainable.”
Jess Shilton, PROMOTE Researcher said, “Having now met with a wide variety of data scientists across academia, the NHS and industry it has been great to gain their insights into how research culture and career pathways can be improved. There has been real appetite for the project and belief in its value. I am excited to bring this conversation to a wider audience once the co-creation stage is completed.”
Looking ahead
Over the coming months, PROMOTE will move into its next stage of activity. Planned initiatives include:
- Surveys and interviews with biomedical data scientists across sectors
- A national mentoring programme connecting early-career and senior researchers
- Intersectoral exchanges between academia and industry
- Commercialisation and career development resources
- New training and advice materials to support career progression
A survey is expected to launch in the coming months late 2025, offering biomedical data scientists the opportunity to share their experiences and help shape national career pathways. Further ahead, PROMOTE will roll out its mentoring scheme and a series of training and development opportunities. The team also hopes to host collaborative events with other MRC-funded projects to strengthen community ties.