From Vascular Biology to Wearable Data: A Conversation with Professor Tim Chico
Description:
In this episode of Health Data Science Insights – Cambridge, Dr Elena Raffetti speaks with Professor Tim Chico, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Sheffield, Consultant Cardiologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, and Associate Director of the British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre.
Tim shares the unexpected beginnings of his research career in vascular development, how a chance project turned into 20 years of discovery biology, and what inspired his current vision: using smartphone and wearable data to improve cardiovascular care.
The conversation explores:
The “accidental” nature of career paths in research
The challenges and opportunities of integrating wearable and routine health data
Building effective partnerships between academia and industry
Why interpersonal and leadership skills are crucial in team science
Work–life balance, hobbies, and lessons learned along the way
Advice for young researchers on risk-taking, training, and self-worth
The broader challenges of achieving equal access to healthcare in the UK
A thoughtful and inspiring discussion on careers, collaboration, and the future of health data science.
