Welcome to our latest feature in our Life at LetsGetChecked series. This time around, we’re offering insight into the technology, data, and analytics behind LetsGetChecked by speaking to those that work alongside it each day.

This week, we spoke with Maria Luisa Guerriero, our Senior Data Scientist. Maria spoke to us about current data trends, data management challenges, where she sees MedTech five years from now - and most importantly, where LetsGetChecked fits in.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey to date

I studied computer science up to a Ph.D. level in Italy and then worked in Ireland and the UK for a few years as a postdoctoral researcher with a focus on computational modeling for biological systems. After that, I worked in a pharmaceutical company, doing work that spanned from mathematical modeling to bioinformatics and data science. I joined LetsGetChecked a year ago as a Senior Data Scientist.

When did your interest in MedTech begin?

I became interested in applying my computer science knowledge to the medical field during my PhD. In particular, I was interested in using computer science and math to help understand how our genetic background influences our response to medicines and our predisposition to diseases.

Artificial intelligence is undoubtedly one of the biggest data trends. As computing power and data storage ability has massively increased over the years thanks to powerful machines and cloud computing, we now have an abundance of data at our disposal, and new mathematical methods are needed in order for us to make sense and get meaningful insights from this big data.

What are the biggest data management challenges that are faced in the MedTech industry? How does LetsGetChecked combat them?

All the patient data that we collect needs to be securely stored, validated, processed, integrated, analyzed and protected. All of these steps require dedicated expertise, and the sheer volume and heterogeneity of the data make them challenging.

In LetsGetChecked, we have a large technology department with teams working on each of these aspects. We have a strong emphasis on data security and have over time built an internal data infrastructure that enables us to integrate data coming from different data sources, and store and efficiently access it.

How does LetsGetChecked utilize the data we have effectively and use it to shape the future of medical services?

Where appropriate, we use our data to make informed decisions and to provide maximal benefit to our client's patient populations and private customers, continuously aiming to reduce medical costs and improve health outcomes.

Among the many uses of our data, we automatically generate reports for clients, and to show test results to patients, we recommend suitable test kits for patients based on a their answers to a health questionnaire. We have recently started to provide additional services such as secure messaging consultations, prescriptions, and integration with data from wearable devices that enables patients to monitor and alter the behaviors that affect their health and well-being.

What is the most exciting aspect of working with LetsGetChecked?

LetsGetChecked is a very dynamic and young company, with a strong innovative and collaborative spirit. I love multidisciplinary work and as a data scientist, I get to be involved in all areas of the company, from marketing to operations and clinical.

Where do you see MedTech five years from now and where will we fit in?

Healthcare is moving towards an integrated system of health and well-being, shifting more towards prevention rather than acute treatment, where patients will be able to help diagnose medical conditions and monitor their health using modern devices such as wearable devices and other at-home test kits like the ones LetsGetChecked offers.

Together with our service offerings, such as providing secure messaging consultations and drug prescriptions, LetsGetChecked is placed to provide a full medical service, from diagnosis to treatment.