Why data management matters

Research is only as good as the evidence it generates, and data management is a critical part of this process since it supports findings. High quality data must be preserved for long term use and available to the research community. Ultimately, data is not about numbers, but about people's lives and health.

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Naomi Waithira heads Data Management at Mahidol Oxford Research Unit (MORU) in Bangkok where she is responsible for supporting MORU researchers in planning, collecting, curating, storing and sharing data. Nested within the Clinical Trials Support Group, her team develops software applications and databases, curates data and provides training to study staff in Asia and Africa.  

With a background in Computer Science, Naomi worked in software and database development since 2006. She has undertaken data management for numerous clinical trials and epidemiological surveillance projects.  Naomi’s interest is to increase utility of data and software applications through: use of easy-to-access technology such as smartphones for data collection, automation of data curation processes and integration of information systems. Naomi works closely with collaborators to promote data sharing and apply the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) principles in health data.