Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster

 

DLSPH Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster

The Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) developed Interdisciplinary Research Clusters with a mandate to provide leadership for impactful research initiatives and educational opportunities for the School’s top five themes in the 2019-2024 Academic Plan.

Laura Rosella led the Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster, which brought together an interdisciplinary team to focus on the DLSPH priority area: “Using data sciences, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in informatics and analytics to improve population health and health systems performance”. The cluster was launched in 2020 with funding for up to three years.

The vision was to realize the potential and applications that AI and data science hold for improving population health and health systems. In early 2020, members of the interdisciplinary cluster came together to identify the following three key areas of focus:

1. Conversations in AI and Health to foster critical thought and debate regarding data science in the context of public health and health systems.

2. Education and training in analytic approaches to artificial intelligence and machine learning for population health and create opportunities for discussion and collaboration.

3. Research to support high impact data science research projects in population health and planning for future interdisciplinary team grants. 

The Data Science IDRC supported a wide range of research initiatives across the department. Below is a list of publications, presentations, and leveraged awards that resulted from this funding (updated June 2023).

 

Publications

(* Denotes trainees)

  1. Biswas A, Chen C, Dobson K*, Prince SA, Vahid Shahidi F*, Smith P, Fuller. Identifying the sociodemographic and work-related factors related to workers’ daily physical activity using a decision tree approach. BMC Public Health. 2023. (In Press)
  2. Boyer P, Donia J*, Whyne C, Burns D, Shaw J. Regulatory Regimes and Procedural Values for Health-Related Motion Data in the United States and Canada. Health Policy and Technology. 2022;100648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2022.100648. (Accepted)
  3. Donia J*. Normative logics of algorithmic accountability. Proceedings of the 2022 Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (FAccT). 2022. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1145/3531146.3533123. (Accepted)
  4. Emdin A*, Boblitz A, Maclagan LC, Bethell J, Watt JA, Harris DA*, Maxwell CJ, Jones A*, Austin PC, Stukel TA, Iaboni A, Bronskill SE. Describing the Evolution of Medication Use Over Time in People Living with Dementia Using Network Analysis. Innovation in Aging. 2022; 6(1): 778. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac059.2815
  5. Emdin A*, Boblitz A, Maclagan LC, Bethell J, Watt JA, Harris DA*, Maxwell CJ, Jones A*, Austin PC, Stukel TA, Iaboni A, Bronskill SE. Medication Use in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Dementia in Ontario: Applying Machine Learning Techniques to Better Describe Prescribing Patterns over Time. Canadian Geriatrics Journal. 2023; 26(1):212-213. Available form: https://cgjonline.ca/index.php/cgj/article/view/659/890
  6. McCradden MD. Partnering with children and youth to advance artificial intelligence in healthcare. Pediatric Research. 2023; 93: 284–286. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-022-02139-z
  7. McCradden M, Hui K*, Buchman DZ. Evidence, ethics and the promise of artificial intelligence in psychiatry. Journal of Medical Ethics Published Online. 2022. Available from: https://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2023/05/17/jme-2022-108447.long
  8. Sikstrom L*, Maslej MM*, Hui K*, Findlay Z*, Buchman DZ, Hill S. Conceptualising fairness: three pillars for medical algorithms and health equity. BMJ Health & Care Informatics. 2022; 29: e100459. Available from: https://informatics.bmj.com/content/29/1/e100459.long **EDITORS CHOICE** May 2022, **Top 10 Downloaded articles in BMJ HCI 2022**
  9. Sikstrom L*, Maslej MM*, Findlay Z*, Hui K*, Strudwick G, Zaheer J, Hill S, Buchman DZ. Predictive care: a protocol for a computational ethnographic approach to building fair models of inpatient violence in emergency psychiatry. BMJ Open.2023; 13: e069255. Available from: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/4/e069255.abstract
  10. Thai K, Tsiandoulas KH, Stephenson EA, Zlotnik Shaul R,Anderson JA,Shinewald AR, Ampofo A, McCradden MD. Perspectives of Youths on the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care Research and Clinical Care. JAMA Network Open. 2023;6(5): e2310659. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/article-abstract/2804374

 

Presentations

(* Denotes trainees)

May 2023      The role of sensitivity analysis in handling untestable assumptions in analyses of EHR data. Statistical Society of Canada (SSC) annual meeting. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Garrett R*, Feldman B, Pullenayegum E.

May 2023      Characterizing the impact of dataset shift on a precision public health model during the COVID-19 pandemic. Symposium on Artificial Intelligence for Learning Health Systems (SAIL), San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 2023. Presenters: Harish V*, Watson T, Pagalan L, Hurst M, Postill G, Bogoch II, Khan K, Tuite A, Mamdani M, Rosella LC.

May 2023      Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 testing and test positivity in children and parents: a longitudinal cohort study. TARGet Kids! Science Meeting, Toronto, Canada. Presenter(s): Aglipay M*, Li X, Koh M, Fu L, Keown-Stoneman C, Birken CS, Kwong JC, Tuite A, Mamdani M, Maguire JL.

Mar 2023      Hungry for Solutions: Addressing Child Food Insecurity. Esri Canada: 5th bi-annual conference on GIS in Education. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Sinn J*, Ma R*, Chu N*, Campbell A*, Tjong G* (The Covariates). Available from: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b43b7f00c57a40bb9461ae2edb5297ef

Mar 2023      Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among children in the Greater Toronto Area.   Oral Presentation (Local): Pediatric Grand Rounds, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Presenter(s): Aglipay M*, Woldu M, Keown-Stoneman C, Birken CS, Kwong JC, Tuite A, Mamdani M, Maguire JL.

Mar 2023      Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among children in the Greater Toronto Area.  Canadian Immunity Task Force Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. Presenter(s): Aglipay M*, Woldu M, Keown-Stoneman C, Birken CS, Kwong JC, Tuite A, Mamdani M, Maguire JL.

Mar 2023      Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 testing and test positivity in children and parents: a longitudinal cohort study. Canadian Immunity Task Force Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. Presenter(s): Aglipay M*, Li X, Koh M, Fu L, Keown-Stoneman C, Birken CS, Kwong JC, Tuite A, Mamdani M, Maguire JL.

Mar 2023      Temporal trends in adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions among children and parents in the Greater Toronto Area. Canadian Immunity Task Force Meeting, Vancouver, Canada. Presenter(s): Aglipay M*, Semalhago J, Keown-Stoneman C, Birken CS, Kwong JC, Tuite A, Mamdani M, Maguire JL.

Feb 2023       Hungry for Solutions: Addressing Child Food Insecurity. Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster Geospatial Data Visualization Challenge. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Sinn J*, Ma R*, Chu N*, Campbell A*, Tjong G* (The Covariates). Available from: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b43b7f00c57a40bb9461ae2edb5297ef

Feb 2023       What makes Torontonians feel at home? Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster Geospatial Data Visualization Challenge. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Esser K*, Kain K*, Tiwana A*, Zhang B*, Zhou ZL* (Team Parks). Available from: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6f0eb3ffdb17411b8889cf95a341adba

Feb 2023       Toronto’s Opioid Epidemic. Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster Geospatial Data Visualization Challenge. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Abdalla S*, Kim BW*, Lu K*, Samsel K*, Sheth P* (Epic Epis). Available from: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9b512757b2a54529a04676a5b0431c35

Feb 2023       Food for Thought. Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster Geospatial Data Visualization Challenge. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Jaffe R*, Dong C*, Vijayratnam A*, Farooq S*, Senka S* (Food for Thought). Available from: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ee5cd236971141c0acd61c58b9f6bb21

Feb 2023       Active Toronto. Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster Geospatial Data Visualization Challenge. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Chiodo S*, Ge PH*, Wu DY*, Zhou H* (Active Toronto). Available from: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4e86113143884d3b83046db1a8ea7c93

Feb 2023       Diabetes Epidemic: A Recipe for Change Starting with Food. Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster Geospatial Data Visualization Challenge. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Banh J*, Nguyen A*, Nguyen B*, Nguyen D* (Healthy Plate, Healthy Lives). Available from: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/366a3b01e4024b3d8ea0c6f81012d49b

Feb 2023       Can machine learning provide insights on the predictors of workers’ physical activity? Institute for Work and Health Internal Speaker Series. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenters: Biswas A, Chen C.

Dec 2022      Predicting Incident Breast Cancer using Complete Blood Count Data. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. San Antonio, Texas, United States. Presenters: Giannakeas V*, Sopik V*, Narod SA

Nov 2022      How does Medication use Change over Time Following a Dementia Diagnosis? Using Network Analysis to Help Understand Complex Prescribing Patterns. Engagement of People with Lived Experience of Dementia (EPLED) Annual Meeting. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter: Emdin A*.

Nov 2022      Describing the Evolution of Medication Use Over Time in People Living with Dementia Using Network Analysis. Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Presenter(s):  Emdin A*, Boblitz A, Maclagan LC, Bethell J, Watt JA, Harris DA*, Maxwell CJ, Jones A*, Austin PC, Stukel TA, Iaboni A, Bronskill SE.

Oct 2022       Medication Use in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Dementia in Ontario: Applying Machine Learning Techniques to Better Describe Prescribing Patterns over Time. CCNA Partners Forum and Science Day. Online. Presenter(s): Emdin A*, Bronskill S.

Sep 2022       Explain AI 4 Kids (aka ExplAIn 2 Kids: Engaging Children & Youth in Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare). Bioethics Grand Rounds. SickKids. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenters: McCradden M.

Sep 2022       When measures become targets: the unintended consequences of psychiatric AI. Critical Digital Humanities International Conference, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Reslan D, Maslej M*, Hui K,* Buchman D, Zaheer J, Hill S, Sikstrom L*.

Fall 2022        Involving Patients in Machine Learning Research. Science Communication. Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Undergraduate Course – McMaster University. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Maslej M*.

Fall 2022        How machines learn: An example from acute psychiatric care. Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Undergraduate Course – McMaster University. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Maslej M*.

Jul 2022         Explain AI 4 Kids (aka ExplAIn 2 Kids: Engaging Children & Youth in Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare). Critical Medicine Retreat. SickKids. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter: McCradden M.

Jun 2022       AI 4 Kids’ Health webinar. SickKids Interactive. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenters: Johnson A, Oakden-Rayner L, McCradden M, Roberts R, Thai K. Available from:  https://youtu.be/P4pMHuOeoy0

Jun 2022       Translation/Dialogue and Practice Tutorial: An intersectional approach to model construction and evaluation in mental health. ACM FAccT’22, Seoul, South Korea. Presenter(s): Sikstrom L*, Maslej M*, Reslan D, Wang Y.

Jun 2022       Predictive Care: Anticipating Violence in an Emergency Psychiatric Setting. Anthropology, AI and the Future of Human Society, Royal Anthropological Institute, London, United Kingdom. Presenter(s): Sikstrom L*, Maslej M*, Hui K*, Buchman D. (Virtual Conference)

May 2022      Using decision tree machine learning to identify worker movement typologies. Data Science Interdisciplinary Cluster Symposium 2022. Dalla Lana School of Public Health Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Biswas A, Chen C.

May 2022      A multicentre database of patients hospitalized with diabetes in Ontario across 30 hospitals. Data Science Interdisciplinary Cluster Symposium 2022. Dalla Lana School of Public Health Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter: Colacci M*.

May 2022      The evolution of potentially inappropriate prescribing in persons with dementia. Data Science Interdisciplinary Cluster Symposium 2022. Dalla Lana School of Public Health Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Emdin A*, Bronskill SE.

May 2022      Building Fair Machine Learning Models: Using Big Data to Explore Inequities in Risk Assessment at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Data Science Interdisciplinary Cluster Symposium 2022. Dalla Lana School of Public Health Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): Sikstrom L*, Maslej M*.

May 2022      ExplAIn 2 Kids: Engaging Children & Youth in Ar@ficial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare. Data Science Interdisciplinary Cluster Symposium 2022. Dalla Lana School of Public Health Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter(s): McCradden M, Thai K.

May 2022      A Predictive Model for the Presence of Occult Cancer in Family Practice Patients. Data Science Interdisciplinary Cluster Symposium 2022. Dalla Lana School of Public Health Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presenter: Giannakeas V*.

May 2022      Ethical Considerations for Using Big Data to Explore Inequities in Violence Risk Assessments in Mental Health Care. American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Presenter(s): Hui K*, Sikstrom L*, Maslej M*, Buchman D, Sisti D.

 

Leveraged Funding and Awards

(* Denotes trainees)

2023-2024 Impact of adherence to non-pharmaceutical public health measures on SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. Public Health Measures for COVID-19 Response Program: Public Health Agency of Canada. Co-Investigators: Birken CS, Bolotin S, Keown-Stoneman C, Kwong JC, Mamdani M, Tuite A. $149,500 (CAD)

2022-2025 Alzheimer’s Society of Canada Doctoral Award. Recipient. Awardee name: Abby Emdin. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

  • The foundation of the DLSPH seed funding also contributed to my strong application for an Alzheimer’s Society of Canada Doctoral Award. $108,000 (CAD)

2022-2023 Tailoring research on potentially inappropriate prescribing in persons with dementia using patient and care partner perspectives. Canadian Consortium of Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Synapse Funding. Principal Investigators: Emdin AL, Bronskill SE.  $20,000 (CAD)

  • This foundation built by this DLSPH seed funding was used to secure trainee project funding from the Canadian Consortium of Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Synapse Funding ($20,000 total) – awarded October 2021 and included CCNA Synapse EPLED funding ($5,000) to work with persons with lived experience, CCNA Synapse main funding ($10,000) to support project work, and CCNA Synapse KTE funding ($5,000) to support knowledge translation.

2022 Google Award for Inclusion Research, Recipient. Google Research. Mountain View, California, USA. Principal Investigators: Sikstrom L*, Hill S. Co-Investigators: Maslej M*, Buchman D, Zaheer J. $60,000 (USD).

  • The Google AIR Program is an ongoing effort to support innovative research working to create positive societal impact. Our project titled “A Computational Ethnographic Approach to Building Fair Models of Inpatient Violence in Emergency Psychiatry” was the sole winner in Canada.

2021-2023 Predictive Care: An Institutional Ethnography of Risk Assessment in an Acute Psychiatric Setting. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant (SSHRC IDG). Principal Investigator: Sikstrom L*. Co-Investigator(s): Hui K*, Maslej M*. Collaborators: Hill S, Buchman D, Strudwick G, Zaheer J. $60,936 (CAD).

 

The Data Science Interdisciplinary Research Cluster includes the following members:

Laura Rosella, DLSPH*

 Olli Saarela, DLSPH

Tim Chan, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

 Michael Schull, ICES

Natasha Crowcroft, DLSPH

 Emily Seto, IHPME

Michael Escobar, DLSPH

Jay Shaw, IHPME
Marzyeh Ghassemi, Vector

Arjumand Siddiqi, DLSPH
Anna Goldenberg, Vector

Roxana Sultan, Vector

Jennifer Gibson, UofT Centre for Bioethics

Therese Stukel, IHPME

Astrid Guttmann, ICES

 Lisa Strug, DLSPH

Muhammad Mamdani, Pharmacy and Medicine

Ross Upshur, DSLPH

Alison Paprica, ICES

Walter Wodchis, IHPME

Andrew Paterson, SickKids

Andy Wong, UHN

Andrew Pinto, DFCM and DLSPH

Julia Zarb, IHPME
Tomi Poutanen, Layer 6

Aya Mitani, DLSPH

*Cluster lead