TITLE:
The Impact of Online Networks and Big Data in Life Sciences
AUTHORS:
Ruchita Gujarathi, Fabricio F. Costa
KEYWORDS:
Online Networks; Big Data; Health; Life Sciences; Patients; Diseases; Privacy
JOURNAL NAME:
Social Networking,
Vol.3 No.1,
January
23,
2014
ABSTRACT: Advances in Information Technology (IT) have enhanced our ability to gather, collect and analyze information from individuals and specific groups of people online. The emergence of online networks has facilitated connections between individuals by leveraging data exchange in a variety of fields. Online networking in life sciences transforms data collection into actionable information that will improve individual and population health, deliver effective therapies and, consequently, reduce the cost of healthcare. These novel tools might also have a direct impact in personalized medicine programs, since the adoption of new products by health care professionals in life sciences and peer-to-peer learning could be improved using social networks and big data analytics. However, one of the main concerns of information exchange online is data privacy. In this article, we will review how online networks and big data analytics are impacting the life sciences sector.