MD Anderson Cancer Center Launches Institute for Data Science in Oncology

November 16, 2023 - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center recently launched its Institute for Data Science in Oncology (IDSO), which aims to transform cancer care and research through the application of advanced data science and clinical expertise.

The institute will prioritize collaboration among stakeholders in medicine, science, academia, and industry to address cancer patients’ most urgent needs.

“The answers to overcoming cancer are within our reach, and we owe it to our patients and their families to move beyond traditional approaches to find those answers quickly,” said David Jaffray, PhD, director of IDSO and chief technology and digital officer at MD Anderson, in the press release. “The institute is changing the way we work, incorporating the next generation of computational approaches and team data science across MD Anderson. By making data part of every decision, we will ensure progress for our patients and their families at the pace needed to address the urgent problem of cancer.”

Researchers at IDSO will use various data analysis and computational methods to bolster the way the health system leverages its massive amounts of data. In doing so, stakeholders hope to drive new discoveries, personalize care, and optimize patient experience.

“At MD Anderson, we are intimately familiar with the urgent needs and challenges facing our patients, and we will find the best solutions possible by unlocking the full power of the growing and increasingly complex data,” noted Caroline Chung, MD, director of Data Science Development and Implementation for IDSO and chief data officer at MD Anderson. “The institutional commitment to this effort enables us to build an unmatched oncology data ecosystem that fuels effective collaborations across MD Anderson and around the world.”

The press release indicates that the institute will support more efficient data generation, collection, and management across the health system.

The institute’s work will also focus on fostering collaboration between MD Anderson’s clinical and research communities and creating opportunities for external partners to contribute to IDSO’s efforts.

The institute’s work will initially prioritize five research areas: “Quantitative Analysis and Insights from Pathology and Medical Imaging;” “Multi-Cell Interactions Informed Through Single Cell Analytics and Data Science;” “Computational Modeling for Discovery, Development and Optimization of Precision Medicine;” “Equitable Decision Analytics for the Health of the Person and Society;” and “Development of Automated Approaches to Increase Access, Safety and Quality.”

To support these focus areas, IDSO has engaged experts in genomic medicine, radiation oncology, imaging physics, and translational molecular pathology, with plans to continue to recruit and train researchers in other fields.

“The Institute for Data Science in Oncology positions MD Anderson as a leader in data science for cancer care, discovery and clinical operations. Its innovative programs will be, in many cases, the first generation of data science applied to the challenge of ending cancer,” said Peter WT Pisters, MD, president of MD Anderson. “The institute is a critical element of our institutional strategy, and it will transform how MD Anderson uses data to advance discoveries and make the greatest impact on humanity.”

These efforts reflect a broader interest among healthcare organizations to tap analytics and other advanced technologies to improve cancer care.

In June, Dartmouth established its Center for Precision Health and Artificial Intelligence (CPHAI) with $2 million in initial funding from the university’s Geisel School of Medicine and the Dartmouth Cancer Center.

The center is designed to help drive interdisciplinary research into how artificial intelligence (AI) and biomedical data can advance precision medicine and health outcomes. The center’s work will also focus on improving public health and healthcare delivery while ensuring rigorous ethical standards for health AI are maintained.