Over the past decade, data-driven science has produced enormous sets of data. The convergence of statistics and computer science, in the field known as machine learning, provide the means to understand these large datasets. Ultimately, machine learning algorithms will be develop into clinical decision making support systems. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/