Leveraging open data analytics and machine learning to improve diagnosis of diseases, patients’ care, and support: Proceedings from the 2023 Inter-University Big Data and AI Challenge

Abstract

STEM Fellowship’s Inter-University Big Data Challenge offers a distinctive opportunity for university students globally to engage in a hands-on learning experience that combines computational thinking and Big Data exploration to seek solutions to health-related challenges at the national, regional, community, and individual levels. It serves as an innovative platform for identifying and nurturing research and development talent through the application of computational science and effective scholarly communication. Within this program, participants gain access to a diverse range of workshops focused on data analytics, programming, and science communication. Through these workshops, students acquire valuable skills in Python, R, machine learning, LaTeX, and Overleaf, enabling them to tackle complex data-driven problems. By providing these tools and fostering experiential learning, the program equips students with the necessary knowledge and expertise to contribute meaningfully to the field of Data Science and its applications in various domains, including healthcare. This year, the program participants explored the theme of “Leveraging Open Data Analytics and Machine Learning to Improve Diagnosis of Diseases, Patients’ Care and Support” and suggested a whole spectrum of original Open Data and Machine Learning based ideas and solutions. The research topics presented encompass a wide range of areas, spanning from repurposing drugs for the treatment of rare diseases and employing machine learning techniques to detect the progression of Parkinson's disease, to developing an ESG-focused governance framework aimed at enhancing patient care. Overall, we received submissions from student teams from practically all leading Canadian universities, mixed teams of students from Canada and the US, and Asian universities. On behalf of the STEM Fellowship, we extend our sincere congratulations to all students who participated in the program and wish them the best for their future academic and professional endeavors. We want to express our appreciation to all the mentors and volunteers. This program would not be possible without generous support of our sponsors: Canadian Science Publishing, IntechOpen, JMIR Publications and adMare Community.