A grant of DKK 200 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation will enable a new national “one point of entry” gateway to health data to be established in Denmark. This will bolster health research and drive personalised medicine and innovative health solutions.
Denmark has a unique and well-established tradition of collecting and storing high-quality health data across many public authorities. However, until now, these data have been dispersed across the healthcare system, with limited opportunities for linking to other health data.
The creation of a new national gateway to health data for research and innovation – along with a new national analysis platform – will make conducting research and developing health solutions using Denmark’s health data easier and require fewer resources.
Researchers will be able to apply for access to health data through a single authority – instead of the current system, which requires applying to multiple authorities.
This will make a huge difference, predicts Sophie Løhde, Minister of the Interior and Health of Denmark:
“Denmark has a highly digitalised healthcare system, a strong tradition of clinical research and uniquely rich health data. Combined with a thriving life science industry, these strengths create exceptional opportunities to develop new health solutions that benefit patients. However, unlocking their full potential requires improving researchers’ access to the health data collected. The establishment of the new national gateway will now enable researchers to do just that.”
For patients, these new initiatives herald a future of more rapid and accurate diagnosis, improved treatment options and more personalised medicine. Having easier access to comprehensive, interconnected health data will improve the ability of researchers and health authorities to identify disease patterns earlier, tailor treatments more precisely and ensure that Denmark’s healthcare system adopts new and innovative solutions.
“Health research drives innovation and enhances the quality of our healthcare system. I am therefore pleased that, in the future, researchers will have a single point of access for health data. This streamlined approach will make research more efficient and drive new solutions that benefit researchers, doctors and patients,” says Anders Kühnau, President of Danish Regions.
The new health data infrastructure is being developed as a joint public initiative supported by a grant of DKK 200 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
“Much more investment in research and innovation is essential for Denmark to successfully tackle the challenges of the future. A key part of this is improving access to data, and researchers will now have more rapid, easy and efficient access to health data – along with optimal opportunities to analyse them. This will reinforce Denmark’s position as a leading innovator in health, benefitting both research and patients,” says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Facts: Supercomputers will make the difference
Last year, the Gefion supercomputer was launched through collaboration between the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO). Later this year, Denmark will get another supercomputer.
Together, these two supercomputers – with other analysis environments and the new health data infrastructure – will strengthen health research in Denmark.
The national health data infrastructure will include the following.
- A single point of access – a new portal will be the focal entry point for health data in Denmark. This will streamline application processes and ensure that requests for access to data across public authorities are more consistently managed.
- National analysis platform – a unified information technology platform will be designed to provide secure access to health data within dedicated analysis environments. It will also support the use of supercomputing capacity – including Gefion – enabling advanced analysis.
