On November 3鈥�4, the , in collaboration with , , , and , co-organized the "Digital Health Symposium: From Research Infrastructure to Clinical Care" in Montreal, a two-day event that brought together over 150 data science researchers, clinicians, and platform developers to explore how digital infrastructures can drive real-world health outcomes.
The first day featured updates from a range of digital platform initiatives, highlighting targeted technical developments and their practical applications to health projects in both hospital and academic settings. Discussions focused on the impact of infrastructure accessibility, data availability, and interoperability鈥攃ritical factors for sustainable digital health progress.
The second day offered a series of inspiring keynote lectures. John Brownstein showcased how AI is being effectively integrated at Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital; Lisa Strug demonstrated how biostatistical research can inform drug discovery; and Ankit Malhotra outlined the resources available through AWS that support impactful health research. Participants also discovered several emerging digital health initiatives currently being developed across Quebec鈥檚 health regions.
A highlight of the day was the D2R-HeDS special breakout on Machine Learning (ML) & Artificial Intelligence (AI) for molecular research, moderated by Hamed S. Najafabadi and featuring Julie Hussin, J茅r么me Waldispuhl, and Nicolas Moitessier. The discussion delved into the roles of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing in molecular and drug discovery, identifying major challenges such as data fairness and accessibility, without which models risk bias and limited generalizability.
Throughout the two days, presentations reinforced key themes:
- Without data access and harmonization, even the best methods struggle to scale.
- Data sharing and federation must be established as national priorities.
- Sustained government and institutional support are needed to fund standards, governance, and the 鈥渓ast-mile鈥� integration that enables data to be used effectively at the bedside.
The Symposium concluded with a lively panel discussion addressing the common themes that emerged across sessions. A thought-provoking debate unfolded around whether digital innovation should prioritize operational efficiency (hospital workflows, staff workload reduction) or patient wellness (better therapies, reduced stress and waiting times, transparent communication). The consensus: both are essential. Operational excellence creates capacity, while patient-centred solutions ensure that capacity is directed where it matters most.
"Data science plays a vital role in transforming large data sets into meaningful insights," said Mathieu Bourgey, D2R's Data Science Director, during his opening remark on Day 2, "but major challenges remain, such as bias, data quality, interpretability, transparency, and interoperability."
Although not all important issues were addressed during the event, it highlighted the urgent need for analytical methods that are robust, scalable to increasingly large cohorts, and capable of modelling inter-individual variability. Only then can findings become more reproducible and generalizable across datasets. Events like this, which bring together methodologists, practitioners, developers, and researchers from diverse domains, are vital to tackling these challenges, strengthening collaborations, and advancing the digital health ecosystem.
Learn more about D2R-HeDS:
D2R-HeDS is a 9I制作厂免费 data science platform supported by the DNA-to-RNA initiative. The platform offers bioinformatics, biostatistics, ML/AI, and data management services; training; consultation; and governance expertise. By harmonizing data management, analysis, and knowledge sharing, and by federating the data science ecosystem, D2R-HeDS connects discovery to translation, enhances reproducibility and equity, and equips researchers, clinicians, and partners to conduct high-quality research that makes a global impact.
Read about researchers are applying data science to their D2R-funded research
