Ms Dianne Brown1, Associate Professor Nadine Andrew, Mr Mark Lucas
1Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Introduction:
Monash University is at the forefront of Health, Epidemiological and Translational research including 13+ registries, 44+ clinical trials and 47+ cohort studies underpinned by complex multimodal, large and often sensitive datasets. Opportunities exist to better deliver higher impact research at scale through capacity building and knowledge sharing in health data linkage.
Objectives
To describe the establishment of M-Link, a community of practice (CoP) developed to support, expand and oversee data linkage practice.
Methods:
In 2019 Helix (Monash’s sensitive data platform) established a data linkage working group of researchers and professionals from eight schools and faculties with expertise in health and big data research. Five priority areas were identified to facilitate capacity building and knowledge sharing. M-Link was initiated and strategies to expand the CoP were developed.
Results:
M-Link was initially established through working group member networks using snowballing. Presentations were given via a Data Fluency programme and data linkage events and a website was developed, expanding the group to over 65 members across 18 schools and faculties. On joining, members were asked to provide information on their data linkage expertise and knowledge of datasets to allow others to reach out to them for advice and mentoring. Other activities included development of guides, training sessions, providing access to infrastructure & data, promotion of relevant resources and playing an advocacy role for data linkage with external agencies.
Conclusion:
Monash has demonstrated how establishing a CoP in data linkage can support best practice and build capacity in health and other research.
Biography:
A/P Nadine Andrew
is a Senior Research Fellow at Monash University and the Research Data Lead for the National Centre for Healthy Ageing. She has a clinical background in Physiotherapy, a Master’s in Public Health and a PhD in epidemiology. She has a growing track record in generating and translating knowledge in the application of data linkage to health services research with a focus on chronic diseases of ageing. She is a named investigator on seven data linkage projects and was recently awarded a $2M MRFF grant to develop a digital health solution for summarising and sharing an agreed set of data considered critical during the medical transfer of people living in residential aged care homes. She leads a team of researchers and professional staff with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, health service research (medicine, pharmacy and allied health), data science, information technology and bioinformatics.