Project aims to help researchers dig into Manitoba population data
A UM research unit that houses one of the world’s richest repositories of population data has embarked on a project to make this “big data” more user-friendly for researchers.
The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP), located in the community health sciences department of the Max Rady College of Medicine, curates and maintains the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository on behalf of the province.
The repository contains data that is routinely collected from the health-care, education, social service and justice systems every time a Manitoban comes into contact with these systems. Although the data is de-identified (made anonymous) to protect privacy, numeric codes allow each individual to be tracked across sectors and over time.
The MCHP project, called “The Essential Data Science Toolbox,” aims to introduce enhanced web tools and project management resources to assist both UM and external researchers in making effective use of the repository data.
The project received a grant of $83,879 from UM’s Strategic Initiatives Support Fund, which funds short-term projects that advance the university’s strategic goals.
“The new tools will make it simpler for researchers and students to access, navigate and use Manitoba population data, leading to better and faster discoveries,” says Dr. Harsha Blumer, who holds the newly created position of associate director of research and analytics at MCHP.
“We’re building our capacity to facilitate important research and foster new partnerships and innovations.”
Manitoba’s repository is considered world-class by national and international scientists because of the extraordinary breadth, depth and linkability of the data. Researchers can use computers to link datasets and reveal associations across sectors – for example, the associations between social service involvement and educational outcomes.
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, 88 lead researchers used the repository data for more than 300 projects.
For the Toolbox project, MCHP consulted with researchers in fields such as education, psychology, social work and law, as well as health, to clarify their needs. Communities, government departments and organizations will also find it easier to undertake research with the new supports.
“Managing data research projects can be time-consuming,” Blumer says. “These improvements will streamline the process.
“The upgraded tools will make it easier for researchers from different fields and locations to do collaborative research of greater complexity and scope. We’re also removing technical and administrative barriers, allowing researchers to focus more on the research itself.”
As part of the project, MCHP will overhaul the organization of its glossary and concept library. These contain standardized definitions and explanations of terms, ideas and methodologies used in research. In 2023-24, the concept library logged 1.6 million page visits.
“The goal is to make the glossary and concept library more intuitive, interactive and user-friendly,” says Ken Turner, repository data analyst at MCHP.
MCHP’s project management support for researchers will also be improved. There will be a dedicated portal where users of repository data can request project management services, access comprehensive resources and get real-time support.
“The new resources will reduce the time and effort required to get ‘big data’ projects off the ground,” says Ina Koseva, senior research project manager. “Researchers will also receive ongoing advice on how to best manage their projects and tackle any problems that arise.”
The Toolbox project was originally led by Charles Burchill, who recently retired from MCHP.
The team expects to launch the new tools and resources online by the end of March 2025.