Dr Christopher Brown is a senior manager in health research, data innovation and systems development, with over 20 years’ delivery experience across academia, the NHS and local government. He is known for turning ambitious, multi-partner programmes into practical, accountable delivery that improves population health, builds local capacity and promotes equity.
The Data Visualisation and AI theme is a new theme in the YH ARC that will apply data analytics, artificial intelligence and visualisation to improve clinical practice and health systems. The theme will develop methods, including AI and causal inference, to explore large electronic health record datasets, anticipate health outcomes and identify at-risk populations. In his role as Theme Manager, Chris will build and coordinate a cross-cutting Theme that aims is to build data science capacity across the region’s Integrated Care Systems and help address health inequalities in underserved communities.
Chris brings direct experience of regional data infrastructure. Previously, at the University of Leeds, he managed the West Yorkshire spoke of the NHSE-funded Yorkshire and Humber Secure Data Environment programme. He established the West Yorkshire Spoke Delivery Group with Leeds and Bradford NHS Trusts and West Yorkshire ICS partners to explore a Connected West Yorkshire Dataset for the secure, ethical use of linked health data and he also set up the Connected Humber and North Yorkshire Delivery Group.
His earlier work spans child health, education and digital innovation. He managed the early stages of the £5M Child Health Outcomes Research at Leeds (CHORAL) partnership with Leeds Teaching Hospitals and directed the regional piloting of the Electronic Development Support tool, which helps teachers identify children with special educational needs. He also supported the Act Locally multi-agency model for school-based health services and managed the UKHSA-sponsored Class-ACT trial across 30 Bradford primary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, he managed the Centre for Immersive Technologies at Leeds, securing over £4.8 million in funding and building partnerships across academia, healthcare, government and industry.