Welcome
The Big Data Institute (BDI) is an interdisciplinary research institute that focuses on the analysis of large, complex, heterogeneous data sets for research into the causes and consequences, prevention and treatment of disease. BDI researchers develop, evaluate and deploy efficient methods for acquiring and analysing information for large clinical research studies. These approaches are invaluable in identifying the associations between lifestyle exposures, genetic variants, infections and health outcomes around the globe.
The BDI is part of the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery at the University of Oxford's Old Road Campus. The director is Professor Trey Ideker.
Blood tests could identify early signs of cancer years before diagnosis
21 Sep, 2026
Study finds DNA changes in blood could reveal early signs of prostate and breast cancer years before diagnosis.
How body fat is stored across organs may reveal hidden health risks, study suggests
1 Sep, 2026
Research reveals distinct patterns of body fat distribution linked to different risks of diabetes, kidney disease and heart problems.
Could GLP-1 drugs prevent blood cancers and other diseases of ageing?
26 Aug, 2026
Researchers will explore whether widely used GLP-1 drugs could be repurposed to prevent blood cancers and diseases of ageing.