Celebrating the Barts Health Data Platform (BHDP) Showcase: A day of innovation, insight, and collaboration 

On 24th April 2025, we were thrilled to welcome over 90 delegates to a special event celebrating the progress and potential of the Barts Health Data Platform (BHDP). Funded by Barts Charity, the BHDP is a powerful tool that is transforming the way we use data to improve healthcare across the Trust and beyond.

The day was packed with insightful talks from a range of speakers, all sharing real-world examples of how they’re using the platform to advance research and patient care. Among them was Prof. Claude Chelala​, who shared insights on Dynamic Cancer Biobanking. Her presentation focused on the aims of the project to ‘Unlock’ access to longitudinal biospecimens and ‘Link’ data, creating significant value for both participants and researchers. This approach supports ongoing and next-generation research questions, accelerates research for patient benefit, and promotes data sharing and collaboration. Another key presentation came from Dr. Concetta Piazzese and Dr. Suthesh Sivapalaratnam, who shared their work on a research project called BloodCounts! Using BHDP, the project aims to improve the early diagnosis of health conditions in pregnant women, including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth, by leveraging blood count data. This exciting project highlights how the BHDP is helping to advance our understanding of complex conditions, improving outcomes for both mothers and babies.

The event highlighted just how impactful the platform has already become — allowing projects like these to thrive thanks to the scale and quality of data available. Steven Newhouse, Deputy Chief Information Officer of Precision Medicine, shared: “We are now able to provide researchers and clinicians with access to health and imaging data at a scale we’ve not offered before. With robust safeguards in place, this development supports more efficient, secure research and marks meaningful progress in advancing medical innovation and understanding of disease.”

Following the presentations, guests enjoyed a buzzing reception where they had the chance to connect, share ideas, and continue the day’s conversations over delicious food and refreshments.

A heartfelt thank you to all our speakers, attendees, and, most importantly, to Barts Charity for their vital support in funding this platform. The BHDP is already making waves, and this event was a true celebration of what we can achieve when innovation and collaboration come together.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to grow the platform and support impactful research across the Trust.