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Rick Watts. Photo supplied.

As of April 1, the College of Health Sciences has seconded  part time as a health research data strategist.

Rick has spent the past 17 years leading the Data Coordinating Centre at the , where he helped establish  as a core data capture platform for clinical research in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. In his new role, Rick will support researchers, strengthen data governance, and enhance REDCap and data management practices across the College. 

How do you describe your work to those who don’t work in your field?

My work covers a broad range of activities and there are a number of different terms to cover what I do. With a life science degree and work experience in both information technology and clinical trials, I can bridge the gap between the science and the technology. I manage the REDCap system, ensuring that it's running optimally. I help study teams manage their data collection strategy, ensuring that they're making best use of the system and, in this new role, I'll be developing data collection standards and policy for the College.

What led you to your current role?

It's been a long and winding path. In the early part of my career I worked in IT within the financial sector, on help desk and later as a programmer. One of my clients was the governor of the Bank of England (long before Mark Carney had the job). The turning point came when I met my future wife and realized that the work she was doing in the pharmaceutical industry was more interesting than my job developing payment systems for a bank. We both jumped ship and became self-employed, working on clinical trials data and taking on jobs that were small or low priority that the "big boys" didn't want to take on themselves. It was fun and we travelled all around Europe. I remember one time meeting up in Marseille for dinner! It wasn't really sustainable, though, and we ended up moving here to Canada where my wife was born. It had always been a dream of hers to move back home.

What’s something your co-workers don’t know about you?

I've been inside the vaults at the Bank of England.

How do you navigate challenges?

I try not to overthink things. Most problems can be broken down into smaller parts and if you step back and take a high-level view solutions often present themselves.

What’s your favourite distraction?

Right now I'm into cycling. I bought an e-bike last year and it's been life-changing. I can ride the trails near my home without worrying about my knees and it's motivated me to get in shape and stay active.

If you were enrolling in one course, program, or degree within the College of Health Sciences right now, what would it be?

I think it would be medical genetics. I graduated in the ‘80s and my final-year project was based on population genetics and taxonomy. At that time full genome sequencing was still just a dream and the technology is advancing so rapidly. One of my hobbies involves a citizen science project and I know people who are sequencing fungi in their basements!