Stakeholders involved in big data research: proposal of potential roles
| Stakeholder | Characteristics | Potential role in big data research |
| Clinicians/health professionals, biomedical/health/life scientists | Knowledge of the diseases, prognosis and treatments | Clinically relevant question, study protocol, data collection, interpretation and implementation of findings |
| Data scientist | To analyse and interpret complex digital data, should be proficient in a broad spectrum of analytical methodologies that encompass traditional (biostatistics, epidemiology, discrete-event simulation and causal modelling) as well as emerging methods 67 | Provide early guidance on the best tools or algorithm to analyse the data Analyses of data and interpretation |
| Computational biologist | Involved in the development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modelling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, ecological, behavioural and social systems. Has domain knowledge in biology | Provide early guidance on the best tools or algorithm to analyse the data Analyses of data and interpretation |
| Data protection officer | Expert on data privacy | Orient the project team in privacy by design practice |
| Patients, carers, patient research partners and patient associations | People living with RMDs who have knowledge of day-to-day life with RMDs, from diagnosis to treatment and long-term management | Participation in all stages of the study, from the protocol to the interpretation of the findings |
| Database expert | Expert of the data in a database | Help the project team to understand the real ‘value’ of data in a database, and provide guidance on data selection |
| Computer sciences expert | Expert in computer sciences solutions | Provide guidance on the best technical solution to manage the big data, from its collection to massive calculation solutions |
RMD, rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorder.