Coffee Chat Spotlight: Data Science and Health Informatics Program
Welcome to our Coffee Chat Series, where we connect with the leaders behind each CTPH program to learn more about the expertise, resources and innovations they bring to the research community. In this edition, we're highlighting the Data Science and Health Informatics Program, which leverages advanced data infrastructure, translational informatics and cutting-edge technologies to drive precision health. By supporting integrated data science workflows across clinical, public health, and population health settings, the program helps researchers transform complex health data into meaningful discoveries and real-world impact.
To learn more about the program, we asked the Data Science and Health Informatics co-leads, Drs. George Zouridakis (UH), Ioannis Kakadiaris (UH), and Jessica Davila (BCM) three questions about how their team is advancing data-driven research, developing innovative health technologies and creating resources that help move scientific discoveries from the lab to the communities they serve.
Q: What problem is the Data Science and Health Informatics Program solving?
Dr. Zouridakis:
Translational researchers generate vast amounts of health data from electronic health records, clinical laboratories, medical imaging, and wearable sensors. However, they often lack the infrastructure, tools and expertise needed to turn that data into actionable insights.
Our program addresses this challenge by providing investigators with secure access to curated clinical data through platforms such as SHARE Enclave and Cosmos. We also provide expert support for real-world data analysis through RADAR.
In addition, we are developing AI-driven tools that bring screening and monitoring capabilities directly to patients on smart devices. In short, we bridge the gap between raw health data and translational impact, making data usable, accessible and actionable for researchers and the communities we serve.
Q: How do you move research discoveries into real-world health solutions?
Dr. Zouridakis:
From the beginning, the goal has been translation. On the data infrastructure side, we take raw clinical data from electronic health records and make it research-ready through secure platforms such as SHARE Enclave, standardized cohort discovery tools, and LLM-assisted data harmonization.
These resources allow investigators to move from research questions to analysis much faster.
On the technology side, we develop AI-powered health tools, including skin lesion screening and cuffless blood pressure monitoring, and deploy them directly on smartphones, putting validated screening capabilities into patients’ hands rather than limiting them to the lab.
We are also launching a Health Innovation Engineering course that will teach the next generation of researchers and clinicians how to systematically create health technologies designed for real-world use from day one.
The common thread is that everything we build is intended to reach patients, clinicians, and communities—not just produce publications. These efforts include both current initiatives and future projects already in development.
Dr. Davila:
Another way we move research into real-world solutions is through collaboration with groups such as the Community Engagement Core.
We have discussed potential collaborative projects using Epic Cosmos to help bring research into the community. One area under discussion is dementia and Alzheimer's disease research currently taking place within the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Department of Neuroscience.
There is interest in bringing together researchers from those groups, along with CTSA colleagues, to develop an Alzheimer's Association proposal that would leverage Baylor's resources to support a community-based project.
Q: How do researchers benefit from what your program offers?
Dr. Zouridakis:
We have delivered measurable impact across three areas: infrastructure, services and tools.
We launched SHARE Enclave, providing investigators with secure access to clinical data for translational research, and implemented i2b2 and Cosmos for cohort discovery and feasibility studies.
We also provide navigator support and training so researchers can use these tools independently. Through RADAR, our real-world data analysis resource, we have assembled cross-disciplinary teams of subject matter experts, biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and data scientists to support investigator-driven projects.
We established an umbrella IRB protocol for secondary data use, removing a significant administrative barrier that previously slowed research timelines.
On the AI side, projects such as skin lesion screening and blood pressure estimation have produced peer-reviewed publications and generated international attention. These technologies have also been clinically validated through collaborations with MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Tech University and Houston Methodist.
Dr. Kakadiaris:
One area we are currently working on to benefit researchers is streamlining the IRB process. Preparing IRB applications takes significant time. If we can provide templates that investigators can edit once a project is approved, it could significantly reduce the administrative burden and accelerate research.
The Data Science and Health Informatics Program continues to play a critical role in advancing translational research by providing investigators with the tools, expertise and infrastructure needed to unlock the full potential of health data. Through collaboration, innovation and a commitment to improving health outcomes, the program is helping bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world impact. To learn more about available resources and opportunities for collaboration, visit the Data Science and Health Informatics Program webpage.