Health data, diversity and AI. Nuances and policy. A conversation with Robin van Kessel.

Diversity in Research Podcast

Join us in this conversation with Robin van Kessel, a health policy researcher at the London School of Economics, as we explore the intricate dynamics of health data, digital health technologies, and AI in healthcare. Robin shares his expertise on health data poverty, the challenges of ensuring inclusive health datasets, and the importance of nuanced policymaking in addressing these issues.

We discuss the concept of health data poverty, its implications, and its impact on the inclusivity and accuracy of health research. Robin highlights the catch-22 of building tools for underrepresented communities without adequate data representation.

To improve health data inclusivity, Robin emphasizes the importance of culturally and linguistically appropriate promotional materials and trust-building measures with minoritized communities. We also explore the benefits and limitations of AI in healthcare, the risks of algorithmic bias, and strategies to mitigate these risks, ensuring AI tools are beneficial and inclusive.

Balancing privacy and data utility is another key topic, with Robin discussing technologies like zero-knowledge cryptography and federated learning to protect privacy while enabling valuable data use. He stresses the importance of fostering trust in data collection and usage practices.

Finally, we talk about the problem of "info noise" in policymaking and the need for clear, valuable information. He advocates for encouraging bottom-up innovation and the inclusion of diverse perspectives, suggesting the potential of citizen advisory boards in research. In his final thoughts, Robin addresses the duality of data-related harms, emphasizing the need to embrace new technologies and inclusive practices in policymaking and research.

The episode is edited and produced by Peter Xiong.

You can learn more about Robin here:

You can read more about Robin at his LSE page: https://www.lse.ac.uk/lse-health/people/robin-van-kessel

You can follow him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-van-kessel/

The three articles mentioned in the interview can be found here:

-https://doi.org/10.2196/33819
-https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj-2022-071913
-https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(20)30317-4

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