Researchers attend international data conference and share learnings that will impact their future work
6 November 2024
Researchers based in the Lifespan and Multimorbidity Research Collaborative (LINC) attended an international conference focused on population data.
The bi-annual International Population Data Linkage Network (IPDLN) conference took place in Chicago in September 2024 and aimed to spark discussions around data linkage.
The conference also was an opportunity to allow researchers and practitioners to share their latest research developments and best practices for linking population-level datasets.
Dr Megan Wood and Lauren Benger, LINC researchers at University of Leeds and Cardiff University, both presented their work at this year’s conference and have shared their experience and learnings from the trip.
Lauren Benger is a current PhD student with the LINC team.
“I was honoured to attend this year’s IPDLN conference as a speaker. I predominantly attended talks within the morbidity and long-term conditions theme, and I was pleased to see that multimorbidity, specifically, featured heavily in the discussions.
This speaks to the global understanding of the growing need to tackle multimorbidity. Some speakers highlighted that the current healthcare system lacks diagnostic frameworks to treat individuals with multimorbidity, or suggested models to predict the onset of multimorbidity over time and how optimising treatment could reduce the risk of additional conditions.
“Others identified demographics in society who may be vulnerable to multimorbidity such as pregnant women, individuals of low socioeconomic status or facing inequalities due to their ethnicity. One speaker noted that there are wider effects of multimorbidity that must be acknowledged, such as the impact on the family members of individuals with multimorbidity.
“It was great to see presentations from representatives of Swansea University who, similarly to LINC, are using a lifespan approach to tackle multimorbidity. They are doing this by considering several early life determinants and using a reductionist approach to identify domains that are particularly relevant to the multimorbidity outcome.
“It was fantastic for both Megan and I to attend and present at a conference which brings together experts in all kinds of topics, all who share such an enthusiasm for propelling research forward.”
Dr Megan Wood is a postdoctoral research fellow with the LINC team.
“I was fortunate to attend several workshops to further develop my skills and knowledge, in addition to the three-day conference. I found the session that focused used on the importance of public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE) incredibly insightful – this is a key aspect of research that is highly valued within LINC.
“We as researchers, need to ensure that our work is accessible to both the public and policymakers to create impact. Something I found particularly interesting was the idea of creating a “research story” when communicating findings. This involves setting the scene and identifying the problem, explaining the change the research will create, and describing the implications for society. With so much impact work going on as part of LINC, I am looking forward to applying this learning to my own dissemination.
“Workshops also covered effective international collaboration, working around the challenges of different systems and the types of data collected. It was interesting to hear so many similarities with my own work but also how normalised data sharing and linkage is in some countries, particularly in Scandinavia. This is something that we in the UK must work really hard to make happen!
“On the final day of the conference I attended full-day workshop on data visualisation. This was probably my favourite session of the conference as it was really hands-on and full of practical tips and insights. We were taught about the various aspects of data visualisation to consider when producing graphics, such as colour theory, as well as being pointed to a whole range of resources available, such as books and websites.
“One of the exercises involved trying to produce as many visuals as possible to represent two numbers before feeding back to the group. After a few minutes of a blank brain, our creativity really kicked in and got us thinking outside the box! The theory and practical tips learned throughout this workshop will be helpful when disseminating findings, in journal articles and posters, but also in my PPIE work too.
Megan concluded: “Overall, there was so much that we took away from the conference, including skill development, knowledge, and networking with new colleagues and contacts. I am already looking forward to the next event in Rotterdam 2026!”
Learn more about the Lifespan and Multimorbidity Research Collaborative (LINC) team.