The Big Data Institute brings together researchers from diverse disciplines to harness large, complex, and heterogeneous biomedical data sets that offer unprecedented opportunities to improve human health worldwide.
Professor Ideker is currently a Professor in the Department of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor in the Departments of Bioengineering, and Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he also leads and co-leads several major data-driven research initiatives, including an ADAPT Center for Precision Oncology, the Cancer Cell Map Initiative and the Bridge2AI Functional Genomics Data Generation Program.
Ideker has been recognised internationally for his contributions to systems biology, artificial intelligence, and their transformative application to the study of cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders and ageing. His pioneering work uses genome-scale measurements to construct molecular maps of human cells and tissues, and then uses these maps for the advanced diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Professor Ideker was named a Top 10 Innovator by Technology Review, received the prestigious Overton Prize from the International Society for Computational Biology, and is consistently acknowledged among the top 1% of scientists by citations. He has recently served as a member of the Board of Scientific Advisors to the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute, the National Human Genome Research Institute, and the American Association for Cancer Research.
Trey Ideker's exceptional scientific vision and deep expertise in large-scale data integration make him an inspiring choice to guide the BDI into its next chapter
Professor Prabhat Jha, Head of the Nuffield Department of Population Health
Professor Ideker said 'I am incredibly honoured to be appointed Director of the Big Data Institute. The BDI stands at the forefront of biomedical data science, and I look forward to working with colleagues in Oxford and around the world to build on its outstanding interdisciplinary research, computational innovation, and teaching excellence.'
Professor Ideker's leadership at the BDI will focus on expanding data science approaches and application of AI to complex health challenges, fostering innovation in biomedical informatics and analytics, and strengthening global research partnerships. He will succeed the Interim Director of the BDI, Professor Eva Morris, who has expertly piloted the BDI for the last few years.
Professor Prabhat Jha, Head of the Nuffield Department of Population Health said 'Trey Ideker's exceptional scientific vision and deep expertise in large-scale data integration make him an inspiring choice to guide the BDI into its next chapter. Under his direction, the BDI will partner with the large biobanks already housed within the Nuffield Department of Population Health to enable integrated discovery that spans from the cellular to population level.
Professor Richard Cornall, Head of the Nuffield Department of Medicine, said 'We are delighted to support Professor Ideker's work, particularly through provision of laboratory space. The appointment will help us to create even closer links between our departments, and the many colleagues and collaborators who work together to make the Big Data Institute a success.'
The BDI plays a central role in advancing data science across population health and medicine, reflecting our commitment to addressing global health challenges through collaborative research. It was established in 2017, and is part of the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery at the University of Oxford's Old Road Campus.