Biomedical Data Science

Welcome to the Department of Biomedical Data Science

Our Mission

The Department of Biomedical Data Science (DBDS) is an academic research community, comprised of faculty, students, and staff, whose mission is to advance precision health by leveraging large, complex, multi-scale real-world data through the development and implementation of novel analytical tools and methods.

What is Biomedical Data Science? 

Biomedical Data Science "spans a range of biological and medical research challenges that are data intensive and focused on the creation of novel methodologies to advance biomedical science discovery. The term “data science” describes expertise associated with taking (usually large) data sets and annotating, cleaning, organizing, storing, and analyzing them for the purposes of extracting knowledge. It merges the disciplines of statistics, computer science, and computational engineering" (Annual Review of Biomedical Data Science). 

Support DBDS Research

Educating the next generation of researchers is our top priority!

Message from the Chair

"As biomedical data scientists, we contribute to precision health by converting data to knowledge. We develop the analytical tools that use real world data to chart a new course for targeting disease, advancing clinical decision support and guiding policy, to improve health and well-being."

Sylvia K. Plevritis, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Biomedical Data Science and Professor of Radiology

DBDS on Diversity

We are committed to our historical and ongoing mission to use biomedical data science to improve human health. A cornerstone of this mission is diversity, reflected in embracing a breadth of complementary research interests, research styles, and a diverse and inclusive community. DBDS recognizes that we have significant work to do in shaping our future as we work towards achieving justice, equity, diversity and inclusion throughout our work and operations, our research and activities, and our professional relationships and partnerships.

Stanford's Land Acknowledgment Statement

Stanford sits on the ancestral land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. This land was and continues to be of great importance to the Ohlone people. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor, and make visible the University’s relationship to Native peoples.

This acknowledgment has been developed in collaboration with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.