LONDON — Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) (“Palantir”) has today published a white paper for a new framework for managing data across the life sciences sector, which could speed up the development of medical treatments and put the UK at the forefront of global medical R&D.Entitled A National Technical Framework to Underpin the UK Life Sciences Vision, the document outlines how modern technology has the capability to give care providers and patients greater control of their data, helping combat existing barriers in data management which can hinder effective health research. Better data management processes could also have further additional benefits, including reducing bureaucracy for front-line clinicians.Under current guidelines in the UK, data for research is often fragmented and subject to major bureaucratic constraints, further undermined by public lack of confidence in data sharing initiatives as a whole.The white paper proposes a new technical framework, which Palantir believes could bring greater coherence, clarity and control over how data is managed and shared, which could create a world-leading index of data for the entire country.The new framework is designed to give care providers and individuals full control over their data, while enabling approved Trusted Research Environments, researchers and regulators access to data for clearly defined research purposes.Louis Mosley, Head of Palantir UK said: “Palantir is committed to using its expertise to help revolutionise the way the life sciences sector handles their data.“We believe the approach set out in this document will help overcome the challenges associated with national data stores, putting control over data sharing firmly in the hands of care providers and citizens and allowing approved researchers to go about their vital, life-saving work.”Palantir’s extensive work with different health bodies across the country throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the importance and value of a life science research base which is nimble and can react quickly to emerging threats.But despite the great strides taken during the pandemic in terms of the UK’s scale and speed of response, as well as the UK’s world-class research institutions, we believe the current life sciences data infrastructure has not evolved quickly enough to support these advances.Palantir argues in the paper for the adoption of technology which could improve data security, while making it easier for researchers to know which doctors and hospitals have the information they need for their studies – streamlining the process significantly. Patients would also know exactly where their data has gone and crucially, would be able to retain full control of their data throughout the process.The new framework will allow the UK to differentiate itself in the global healthcare and life sciences market, helping to cement the UK as a world leader in this area moving forward. It would also enable the UK to establish itself as the reference country where it delivers not only on research and development but on rapidly appraising and approving and adopting new technologies safely at scale, to deliver benefits that are recognised worldwide.Dr Justin Whatling, Managing Director, Health & Life Sciences, Palantir UK said: “Data has the power to unlock the medical treatments and therapies of tomorrow. We need to ensure we’re doing all we can to empower our life sciences sector and provide our world-class research communities with access to high quality data, with clear levels of transparency and oversight.“The framework proposed here is the result of many conversations with international collaborators, as well as Palantir’s direct experiences, and I truly believe if implemented – will signal to the globe that the UK truly is the go-to destination for life science research and innovation.”
