Overview
Advances in digital technology over the past two centuries have transformed science, health and biomedical research. ‘Big’ data opportunities are fast becoming available with advances in data science and artificial intelligence (AI), and these have the potential to transform both research and health care in Africa. For example, the analysis of real-world routine data can provide powerful insights to bridge the knowledge gap and contribute to the discovery of new solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing health challenges. The use of health data sciences and related approaches on the African continent, including in research and policymaking has however been limited by a severe shortage of data scientists.
Research Training on Harnessing Data Science for Global Health Priorities in Africa program provides training for advanced data skilled researchers in health data science in Africa through a rigorous curriculum and set of training and research activities designed to address the health needs of African countries.
The project will build a critical mass of junior public health and medical professionals across South Africa, four other countries in Africa in the ARISE Network (Ghana, Nigeria Tanzania and Uganda), and across Africa to conduct rigorous health data science research.
It will train and support master’s students and postdoctoral fellows in health data science. The project will also develop a new Masters of Health Data Science program at UKZN.
Domains
1. Health Data Science Methods training
The project will provide training through short courses to professionals and researchers, and a graduate certificate in health data science innovation. Courses will include concepts from Statistics, Computer Science, and Software Engineering and include training in Statistical computing for data science, Machine learning, and Deep learning.
2. Health systems strengthening
The project will provide training in the domain of health systems and will provide Masters students and postdoctoral fellows with opportunities to carry out research utilizing health data science methods in health systems research.
3. Food systems, climate change and planetary health
Globally, food systems are failing to deliver nutritious and quality diets that are affordable for all, and poor food systems contribute to persistent undernutrition that affects 820 million people, and micronutrient deficiencies such as anemia that affect 1.9 billion people. There is a critical gap in our understanding of the complex pathways through which climate change and food systems interact to influence nutrition security and health outcomes. The project will provide training in the domain of food systems, climate change, and planetary health and will provide Masters students and postdoctoral fellows with opportunities to carry out research utilizing health data science methods in this area.