Getting Access to Data: Studying Digital Health by Collaborating with a Digital Health Company
The collaboration started in 2017 when I approached the company Kry (which was established in 2015 and was about to experience an accelerating growth from 2017), saying that I was interested in studying their data as part of my PhD. I had previously approached another digital health care providing company, Babylon Health in the UK, with a similar question but received a negative answer. (Babylon Health said that "As a (relatively new!) start-up we are currently unable to facilitate such partnerships with academic institutions”). However, Kry was interested in research and therefore positive to the idea of a collaboration. I went for several meetings at their offices in Stockholm, and was allowed to analyse some anonymised data in late 2017. In April 2018, Kry recruited a Director of Research as they found research should be a component of their work. From then on, my point of contact at the company has been the Director of Research, who holds an MD and a PhD and has been a key collaborator in the research project.
The collaboration has had a positive impact on the progress of my PhD. First of all, I completed my MRes paper using data from the collaboration as well as public data, studying whether healthcare inequalities are due to demand or supply differences between postcode areas in Sweden. The MRes paper is a key part of progressing within the PhD programme, and I received a distinction on this paper. Further on, together with the Director of Research we have applied for registry data from e.g. Statistics Sweden to be matched with data from Kry, after receiving a mandatory ethical approval of the project by The Swedish Ethics Review Authority. Hence, the project has grown to become one of my main projects in the PhD.
Carrying Out a Mutually Beneficial Research Project
I have benefitted by learning how to collaborate as an academic researcher with a private company and by developing my skills in presenting to non-academic audiences. Kry has benefitted as this research project is part of their growing portfolio of research collaborations, building the company’s capacity to understand and contribute to the development of digital care in several countries. Their view is that it is important that the impact of their services is studied, as they are funded from the public health insurance. Moreover, they find that research collaborations build trust and help find solutions to change the healthcare system to become more sustainable.
There also have been challenges. The primary challenge has been the bureaucratic process of data applications for an unusual collection of data, with sources as diverse as two national authorities, three regional authorities and one private company.
My supervisors have been very supportive of this collaboration ever since I had the idea. The Department has also been supportive in terms of allowing me to go to Sweden now and then to build and maintain the collaboration. Moreover, I have received a STICERD PhD Grant to pay for data from Statistics Sweden and the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, which were matched with Kry data to create part of the research dataset.
Advice for Other PhD Students Interested in Research-Business-Collaboration
Approach several companies if the first one does not want a collaboration. Try to find out which companies have a research interest. Explain to them how your research could benefit them, perhaps by showcasing research that has been done with other companies.
* Kry started as a digital care provider in 2015 and has employed over 900 doctors, nurses and psychiatrists in Sweden. Kry combines digital with physical care and operates around 20 physical health centres in Sweden. Backed by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Index Ventures and Creandum, Kry offers digital health care through its app or platform solution in 13 markets around Europe.