Pre-summit Deep Dive Sessions

Robert Andrews
Data Stewardship & Bioinformatics Lead | Cardiff University

Robert Andrews is a data stewardship specialist and bioinformatics lead addressing the complex challenges of data integration, reproducibility, and workflow design in the life sciences. He heads an in-house analysis and training team that supports research across the Division of Infection and Immunity at Cardiff University, where his work spans omics analysis, coaching, data clinics, and the development of digital infrastructure to support translational science.

Robert is co-director of the Cardiff Systems Immunity Research Institute, a member of the management board of the Digital Transformation Innovation Institute, and serves as the data lead for the Division of Infection and Immunity. He is closely involved in multiple high-impact projects, including:

• SW2 Mental Health Platform Research Hub (£4.3M, 2024)

• BioFAIR (pre-award phase) (£34M, 2024)

• LIPID MAPS (£1.4M, 2023)

• Project Sepsis (£2.4M, 2018)

At the European level, Robert sits on the board of ELIXIR-UK, the UK node of ELIXIR, where he leads the data management working group and a pan-European work package focused on building a community of practice in research data management and training.

His international roles include serving on the EOSC Long-Term Data Preservation Task Force, Alan Turing Institute's People in Data Working Group, and the Cancer Vaccines Expert Working Group for the Commission on Human Medicines.

Dr Antonio Pardinas
Genetic Epidemiologist | Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University

Dr Antonio Pardinas is a genetic epidemiologist whose research focuses on the contribution of genetic factors to the development of psychiatric disorders. Based at the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG) at Cardiff University, he works closely with Professor James Walters on treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) — a highly disabling form of the disorder and a major global burden in terms of years lived with disability.

Antonio is a core member of the Psychosis Research Theme at Cardiff and an active collaborator with the Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, contributing to international efforts to advance understanding of the genetic architecture of severe mental illness. He is also involved in the development of the CRIS (Clinical Record Interactive Search) system, in collaboration with the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, supporting real-world data integration for mental health research.

Liz Merrifield
Information and Research Governance Lead, BioResource Data Accelerator Project, Wales Gene Park, Cardiff University

Liz leads on information governance for the BioResource Data Accelerator Project, a collaborative initiative housed within the Wales Gene Park at Cardiff University. Her role supports data governance across a network of academic partners and healthcare providers (including Cardiff ECMC, Wales Cancer Biobank, and Velindre NHS Trust), facilitating safe and lawful secondary use of genomic and health data for research.

With over 15 years' experience in quality assurance for clinical trials, Liz has led internal audits, risk assessments, and compliance strategies across the entire research lifecycle — from study design and consent to data sharing and archiving. She is passionate about building robust and transparent environments that support ethically sound and legally compliant research.

• Session: Deep Dive: Patient Engagement Strategies for the Secondary Use of Health Data Wednesday 24 September 14:00 - 17:00

Finn McCartney is the Project Coordinator for the Health Technology Assessment for Patients (HTA4Patients) and Genomic Research and Environment Group (GREG, WP7) projects at the European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI). With a background in patient advocacy and health policy, he drives patient-centred initiatives, enhancing engagement in health technology assessment and genomic research. His work focuses on empowering patients through education and collaboration across medicines, research and development.

• Session: Deep Dive: Patient Engagement Strategies for the Secondary Use of Health Data Wednesday 24 September 14:00 - 17:00
• Session: Lightning talk, "Digital Tools for Patient Empowerment" Thursday, 25 September 2025, 16:00–17:00, Lightning Talks & World Café

Ceri Steele is an Executive Group Member at use MY data, advocating for patient-driven data transparency from her perspective as an oesophageal cancer survivor, diagnosed in October 2019. Her work emphasizes empowering patients through transparent and ethical health data use, contributing to policy and public engagement initiatives.

• Sessions: Patient Engagement Strategies for the Secondary Use of Health Data. Pre-summit Deep Dive 24 September 14:00 - 17:00
• Lightning Talk & World Café: Patient-Driven Data Transparency. Thursday 25 September 16:00 17:00

Chris Carrigan is the Data Adviser at use MY data and part of the Secretariat for use MY data. Chris is a specialist in health data and information, but with a particular focus on patient involvement and patient voice. Chris coordinates and delivers the regular Members Education Sessions, coordinates the responses from Members to large consultations and represents use MY data on key national groups. He provides advice to Members on any data-related matters. Prior to use MY data, Chris was Patient Involvement Lead and Chief Operating Officer for DATA-CAN, Chair of the Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data, and Head of the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN).

• Sessions: Patient Engagement Strategies for the Secondary Use of Health Data. Pre-summit Deep Dive Wednesday 24 September 14:00 - 17:00
• Lightning Talk & World Café: Patient-Driven Data Transparency. Thursday, 25 September 2025 16:00 17:00