University of Oxford

Academic Institute

OFHS250116

This project aims to improve how we combine different types of health data to make drug research better in Our Future Health. It includes five specific objectives: 1. To develop a system for combining genetic information with other health data 2. To create models that can spot dangerous drug side effects earlier 3. To build a process for finding new medical uses for existing medicines 4. To test advanced methods for choosing the right medicine for each person 5. To conduct studies that meet regulatory standards for drug approval Bad reactions to common medicines are a major cause of illness. For a long time, these reactions seemed like bad luck. We now know this isn't random. Our personal genes and health history can make us more likely to have a problem with a certain drug. Unfortunately, our current systems for finding these problems are mostly reactive. We usually identify a danger only after many people have already been harmed. This project will build and test a new way to predict these risks before patients are harmed. We will do this by combining the rich genetic and health information from the Our Future Health study. Our goal is to create a tool that can spot who is at high risk for a serious side effect before they are even given a medicine. This research has a second goal. By studying this data, we can also find clues that an existing, approved medicine might work for a different disease. This "drug repurposing" could offer new treatment options for many conditions much more quickly and safely. Lastly, to make sure our results are trustworthy and comparable, we will also use a standardised way of curating, organising, linking and analysing health data.

This research will combine research methods and leverage genetic and health data to make medicines safer and more beneficial for everyone. The proposed research will offer direct benefits for the public two ways: First, by preventing harmful unwanted drug effects. Our work will empower doctors to use a patient’s genetic information to choose the safest and most effective medication for them, reducing serious side effects and harm. Second, by finding new treatments faster. Using unique rich data from Our Future Health, we will be able to uncover new uses for existing medicines, helping patients with difficult-to-treat diseases get effective therapies earlier and at a lower cost to them and the NHS. Ultimately, this research will create and test a smart and efficient framework for the prevention of harm caused by medicines, while potentially discovering new indications for existing drugs. If successful, this work will provide safer and cheaper treatments for patients in the UK and worldwide.

Public Health Research

23/12/2025

09/12/2025

TRE