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European Journal of Epidemiology
Published in: European Journal of Epidemiology 3/2018

01-03-2018 | ESSAY

Epidemiology in wonderland: Big Data and precision medicine

Author: Rodolfo Saracci

Published in: European Journal of Epidemiology | Issue 3/2018

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Abstract

Big Data and precision medicine, two major contemporary challenges for epidemiology, are critically examined from two different angles. In Part 1 Big Data collected for research purposes (Big research Data) and Big Data used for research although collected for other primary purposes (Big secondary Data) are discussed in the light of the fundamental common requirement of data validity, prevailing over “bigness”. Precision medicine is treated developing the key point that high relative risks are as a rule required to make a variable or combination of variables suitable for prediction of disease occurrence, outcome or response to treatment; the commercial proliferation of allegedly predictive tests of unknown or poor validity is commented. Part 2 proposes a “wise epidemiology” approach to: (a) choosing in a context imprinted by Big Data and precision medicine—epidemiological research projects actually relevant to population health, (b) training epidemiologists, (c) investigating the impact on clinical practices and doctor-patient relation of the influx of Big Data and computerized medicine and (d) clarifying whether today "health" may be redefined—as some maintain in purely technological terms.
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Metadata
Title
Epidemiology in wonderland: Big Data and precision medicine
Author
Rodolfo Saracci
Publication date
01-03-2018
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
European Journal of Epidemiology / Issue 3/2018
Print ISSN: 0393-2990
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7284
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-018-0385-9

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