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IDERHA in the spotlight Part 7: Hilkka Liedes
In our interview series about the people that drive IDERHA, we spotlight Early Career Community member Hilkka Liedes. Read about why she would like to have dinner with Joséphine Baker, how a perfect day off looks like and what skill she would like to master in 24 hours.
Can you share some insights into the work you are doing in IDERHA (including your affiliation and WP)? And why is your work important?
I’m part of the Health Data Analytics team at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT). Together with my colleagues at VTT, we obtain access to Finnish health register data (incl. electronic health records and CT images). We use these data for validation and fine-tuning of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) models developed for different phases of the lung cancer care pathway. My work is carried out in WP2, which focuses on ML/AI model development, and WP3, which focuses on ML/AI model evaluation and demonstration of their value.
Looking ahead five years, what profound impact do you envision your project will have on both your personal growth and the broader landscape of your field?
IDERHA will be an important enabler for health data science by providing legal frameworks and a technical platform for data discovery, access, and analysis in a federated manner (i.e., data resides in different locations). I also hope to see IDERHA influence implementation of the upcoming European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation. These developments will hopefully streamline the creation of data-driven solutions for health.
On a personal level, I feel privileged to be part of a group of talented experts with diverse backgrounds. One can learn by doing, but also by example—and IDERHA provides me with many excellent examples: how to prepare a project in a very short time, how to communicate effectively, how to prepare a data management plan for a complex project, how to lead, how to find solutions to emerging problems, and much more.
If you were to deliver a TED talk, what would be the topic you'd choose, and why do you think it’s interesting enough for everyone to hear?
The topic of my TED talk would be “Daily struggles of a health data scientist”. I would give practical examples of what data related challenges I’ve encountered in various projects throughout my career: lengthy data permission processes, amount of needed documentation for data collection and access, insufficient or unclear metadata, unharmonized data, lack of suitable data, mistakes in the data collection, etc. This would give to the general public an idea of what it takes to develop data-driven solutions for healthcare. For other data scientist, this would offer a sense of peer support.
If the world of research hadn’t been your calling, what alternative career path do you think you might have taken? And why didn’t you take it?
After high school, I was interested in many things and didn’t have a specific dream profession. I heard about a degree program in biomedical engineering, which sounded like an interesting combination of medicine, science, and technology. That’s what I ended up studying, and I think that has been a good match for me. If I didn’t work in research, I would probably work in a medical technology or pharmaceutical company.
Share with us your ideal way to spend a day off, whether it's a thrilling adventure, a cozy retreat, or an exploration of something new and exciting.
I would go outdoors walking, skiing, canoeing, or cycling with my family and friends. The number of kilometres wouldn’t matter—the most important part would be enjoying a nice meal at a beautiful spot by the water. After an active day, I would put on a Formula 1 race and have a relaxing, race-long nap on the sofa, while my family would actually watch the race.
If you could have dinner with any three individuals, living or deceased, who would they be and why?
- My grandfather, who passed away when I was 1.5 years old. I was so young that I don’t have any memories of him. I’d love to hear, in his own words, about his childhood, teenage years, and adult life.
- Joséphine Baker (1906-1975), who was not only an American and French dancer, singer, and actress, but also a spy and civil rights activist. Her life seems so unbelievable that it would be great to have a dinner with her.
- Margit Sandemo (1924-2018), the author of my favourite book series as a teenager, “The Legend of the Ice People”. I’ve been wondering whether I should read it again or simply leave it as a good memory.
Dive into the world of science-related entertainment - what's your absolute favourite movie, TV series, or book, and why should everyone see or read it at least once?
I recommend watching Norwegian TV series “Dates in real life”. It’s a romantic drama comedy about a Norwegian girl who has been in a relationship for several years with an American boy, and they have never met in real life. The series interestingly depicts how people can live in virtual reality and how that reality can feel real.
If you had the magical ability to master a new skill in just 24 hours, what skill would you choose and why?
I never learned to play any instruments because I always prioritized sports and dancing on my free time, and I would still make the same choice. But I would really love to be able to play an instrument very well—without the pain of learning.