The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Energy on May 1 launched the VA-DOE Big Data Science Initiative, to leverage data analytics for healthcare insights.
The VA will use DOE's high-performance computing capabilities to analyze health data from the VA's EHRs and genomics program, along with information from the CDC, CMS and the U.S. Department of Defense. The project, based within the DOE's National Laboratory system, will utilize machines that can conduct "millions of billions of calculations per second," according to a news release.
The VA and DOE's goal is to develop new treatments and preventive strategies by identifying data-driven trends. One of the VA-DOE Big Data Science Initiative's initial studies will create an algorithm that generates a personalized risk score for suicide. Other project focuses will include cancer and heart disease research.