Wed Feb 05 16:37:16 UTC 2025: ## Leading Bioinformatician Highlights Potential of Data-Driven Medicine

**Bengaluru, February 5, 2025** – Renowned computational biologist Professor Janet Thornton emphasized the transformative potential of data in revolutionizing medicine during a recent lecture in Bengaluru. Prof. Thornton, Director Emeritus of the European Bioinformatics Institute, highlighted the significant advancements in understanding protein structures, particularly showcased by the rapid characterization of the COVID-19 spike protein. However, she stressed that translating this knowledge into new medicines is only beginning.

Prof. Thornton pointed out the current limitations of healthcare, where treatment often focuses on symptoms rather than underlying causes. She believes that the collection and analysis of comprehensive health data offer a path towards more accurate diagnoses and prognoses, surpassing the limitations of individual physician experience. This data-driven approach, she argued, could lead to improved healthcare services worldwide, particularly beneficial in addressing the current global strain on health systems.

While acknowledging the significant challenges in making health data openly accessible, including ethical concerns and commercial interests, Prof. Thornton stressed the critical role of data as a “critical health infrastructure.” She advocated for making clean, high-quality hospital data available to train AI programs, which could greatly enhance research efficiency. The impact of such research, she suggested, extends beyond human health, with applications in agriculture, green chemistry, and even climate change mitigation. Prof. Thornton’s lecture was organized by Shibhulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives (SFPI) in collaboration with TIFR.

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