Roche is dedicated to improving people’s lives, including during the current coronavirus crisis. Roche Molecular Diagnostics (RMD) teams have been working on the development of tests related to COVID-19. Since the tests have been on the market, a huge amount of data has been generated from various laboratories.
I am Hermann, Head of RMD Assay Development at the Rotkreuz site. I am a full-blooded scientist. However, I soon realised that science can only reach its full potential in combination with data. Developing the tests is only the first step; identifying and dealing with problems is just as important and a high priority for us. If, for instance, a device produces a false result or a conspicuously large number of invalid results occur, it is essential that we determine the cause.
The data generated allows us to draw valuable conclusions and enhance the further development of the current test and new product designs. For example, how sensitive must a test be to detect the disease? Would it be possible to pool specimens prior to testing to save time and resources?
My curiosity to learn about data science has not diminished. In the last ten years, I have participated in various online courses and taught myself programming.