Interview with: Gerard Lenstra

This article is part of the “Behind the Scenes” series, in which the UNITE project partners introduce themselves and explain how they will contribute to the transformation of European healthcare.

What motivated you to join the UNITE project, and how does it align with your personal or professional goals?

In the Northern Netherlands, health data has been a central topic for decades. A key example is Lifelines — a large-scale, long-term population study and biobank that officially launched in 2007 after years of preparation.

Lifelines seeks to answer a fundamental question: why do some people grow old in good health, while others develop one or more (often chronic) diseases? To explore this, Lifelines collects a wide range of health-related data from over 160,000 participants. This includes extensive questionnaire responses as well as biological samples, such as blood and urine. By analyzing these datasets in an integrated way, researchers aim to uncover patterns and connections that help explain health outcomes across the lifespan. The Northern Netherlands has thus built a strong foundation in the field of health data infrastructure, combining scientific rigor with a long-term regional commitment.

We believe that our experience and data-driven approach can contribute meaningfully to European collaborations in this area.

Can you tell us about your team's expertise and how it contributes to UNITE's mission of transforming healthcare through digital innovation?

What are the most pressing healthcare challenges in your region, and how do you believe the UNITE project will address them?

The key healthcare challenges we are facing in the Northern Netherlands are not fundamentally different from those in the rest of the country—or indeed, many other regions across Europe. Scientific research continues to drive the development of improved diagnostic tools and more effective therapies. However, this progress coincides with a growing and aging population, resulting in rapidly increasing healthcare demands and rising costs. At the same time, the availability of healthcare professionals is decreasing, placing additional pressure on an already strained system.

We believe that the smarter use of health data can play a vital role in addressing these challenges. By improving how data is collected, analyzed, and applied, we can enhance the efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability of healthcare services. From early detection and personalized treatment to better-informed policy decisions, health data offers powerful opportunities to improve outcomes while managing limited resources.

Within the UNITE initiative, we are eager to share the knowledge and experience developed in the Northern Netherlands, particularly in building data infrastructures and fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders. At the same time, we are equally interested in learning from the approaches and innovations developed in other regions. By working together, we can create scalable solutions that make healthcare more resilient and future-proof across Europe.

How do you ensure that ethical considerations and patient privacy are prioritized in the development of new healthcare technologies?

From a technical standpoint, it is entirely feasible to anonymize health data in a way that safeguards individual privacy. Robust methodologies and strict protocols exist to ensure that personal identities cannot be traced back through the data, while still allowing for valuable insights to be extracted and applied in research, innovation, and public health. However, technical security alone is not enough. Clear and transparent communication with patients and clients is essential.

Importantly, not every individual whose data is included is a patient in the traditional sense—many are healthy participants contributing to broader health insights. Therefore, it is crucial to explain why the use of health data matters, how it is protected, and how individuals themselves can ultimately benefit from it. Health data helps drive advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. It can support the development of more personalized and effective care, improve public health strategies, and contribute to more efficient healthcare systems. But for these benefits to be realized, public trust is essential. 

By engaging in open dialogue and providing accessible information, we can foster a sense of shared purpose. When people understand that their data contributes to better health outcomes—not only for society, but for themselves and future generations—they are more likely to support responsible data use.

How do you plan to engage with other consortium partners to ensure the smooth implementation of innovative solutions across regions?

A key principle within the UNITE consortium should be to truly regard one another as equal partners. This means committing to transparent and open sharing of information, knowledge, and experiences. Only through genuine collaboration can we learn from each other and strengthen our collective impact.

It is equally important to engage in critical, yet respectful dialogue. Asking thoughtful questions about each other’s approaches—why certain decisions were made or why specific methods were chosen—should be encouraged, not avoided. Such exchanges help deepen understanding and improve the quality of our joint work.

At the same time, it is essential to recognize that not all regions operate under the same conditions. Financial resources, healthcare system maturity, and the urgency of specific health challenges vary between countries and regions. Judging past decisions without considering local context is neither fair nor productive.

By maintaining mutual respect and a willingness to learn from each other’s realities, we create an environment where diverse strategies can be explored, adapted, and improved. Ultimately, it is this spirit of openness, curiosity, and collaboration that will allow UNITE to succeed in building a more connected, innovative, and resilient European health data landscape.

How do you plan to involve local stakeholders, such as healthcare providers or policymakers, in the success of UNITE?

NOM is actively engaged in a broad network of organizations and initiatives, both within and beyond the Northern Netherlands. Through ongoing dialogue with government bodies, healthcare providers, insurers, and other stakeholders, NOM plays a connecting role in the regional health innovation ecosystem. As part of this role, we regularly inform these parties about the UNITE initiative—its goals, the challenges it addresses, and the opportunities it creates for cross-border collaboration.

We believe that by raising awareness of UNITE’s mission and activities, we can help expand its reach and impact. Our aim is not only to share information, but also to inspire others to participate. By showing how their expertise and resources could contribute to UNITE, we encourage healthcare professionals, policymakers, and industry partners to become actively involved. We emphasize that collaboration across regions and sectors is essential to building scalable, sustainable solutions for the future of healthcare. Through these efforts, we hope to strengthen both regional involvement and international cooperation, ensuring that the insights and innovations developed within UNITE reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. In doing so, NOM helps build the bridges needed to make health data work for people, systems, and society as a whole.