What are the main challenges with big data in epidemiology?

The perks of big data should not go to our collective heads. Big data does not address the usual epidemiologic challenges related to validity, and may even amplify them. read more

Any life form is an immensely complex mixture of chemistry, genetics and past history. So most of the big data you collect is flawed. It has used simplistic categorisation in its collection such as race, socio-economic groupings etc. The measurements are flawed too - minute variations in temperature, humidity or diet can affect results dramatically. read more

The expanded role of teaching in ethics and epidemiology as it pertains to big data is also an opportunity for researchers who have experience in using big data and its challenges to mentor future researchers wishing to use such data so that potential for high impact epidemiological research can be realized. read more