Opportunities and Risks Presented by Big Data in Medicine

10-Year Celebration Symposium of PharMetrX Graduate Research Training Program from April 19 to 21, 2018, in Harnack Haus. No 061/2018 from Apr 11, 2018 Smart phone apps for personal fitness plans, sensor clocks for blood pressure monitoring, biomarkers for detailed diagnosis of illnesses: the extent of digitalization in the health care sector is growing rapidly, accompanied by a flood of data. But how can big data be used for the benefit of the patient, and what are the risks and side effects' These and similar issues will be addressed at a symposium in the Harnack Haus in Berlin-Dahlem to be held April 19 to 21 on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the doctoral program "PharMetrX - Pharmacometrics & Computational Disease Modeling." The program, which is jointly funded by Freie Universität Berlin and the University of Potsdam, involves pharmacists and mathematicians working with a practical orientation to develop mathematical models for the progression of illnesses and modes of action of drugs in patients in order to develop more effective therapies. Plans are underway to incorporate the topic of big data in medicine into the research work and the training program. Since 2008, 67 doctoral students have been admitted to the graduate program, more than half of them women. In addition to five one-week training modules at Freie Universität Berlin and the University of Potsdam, the curriculum includes a one-week module with a partner from industry and as well as individual industry internships lasting two to three months.