Centre for Digital Transformation of Health

Research strength: Precision Medicine

Biomedical informatics plays a central role in processing the deluge of data gathered through contemporary research activities. Amongst others, these activities may relate to the molecular basis of disease, inter-individual genetic variation and environmental exposure (often referred to as the exposome). Biomedical informatics takes these data, and through integrated analysis, converts them to medically actionable knowledge that can facilitate new personalised preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic solutions (i.e. personalised and precision medicine).

Research areas in which the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health is active include:

• integration of personal genome sequence and molecular information within the electronic health record
• knowledge management systems to assess the clinical relevance of biomarkers
• nanotechnology informatics
• data integration in clinical bioinformatics.

Research strength: Informatics in Participatory Health

Although the digitisation of information has had an enormous impact on many sectors, the health sector is clearly lagging behind in terms of the incorporation of new ICT. This fact has not severely affected the operation of large clinical or research centres as much as it has limited the capacity for citizens to interact with the system, to access their own health information and to interact with health professionals or other patients.

In recent years, the development of social networks, mobile apps and self-monitoring devices is offering enormous potential to advance the health sector in all these areas. The Centre for Digital Transformation of Health is working on research projects related to evidence-based health interventions with social networks, development of virtual communities for patients and public participation in health through web technologies.

Translational Research Informatics

Despite major advances in biomedical and clinical research, there are still considerable gaps in the translation of those findings - into decision support services at the point of care, into continuously learning healthcare organisations, and into widespread change and adoption at a population health level.

In collaboration with Australian researchers and organisations undertaking projects that utilise biomedical data collected routinely – such as through electronic health records, health apps, and other electronic health data capture tools – our researchers are exploring ways to increase the impact of health data analytics, though optimal information management and knowledge sharing.

The Centre has strengths in contextualising health innovations in relation to digital health strategy and policy; in integrating evidence from information sciences and health sciences; in filtering tools and methods for health information systems testing and evaluation.

Research strength: Informatics for e-health solutions

Research in informatics in e-health aims to generate evidence to support the development of e-health solutions and to overcome the barriers associated with these projects.

This includes:

• e-learning
• assessment and evaluation in higher education
• professional education for e-health focusing on educational strategy and policy for building health informatics capacity
• analysis of health sector changes arising from new technologies particularly the integration of emerging high capacity broadband technologies in healthcare, and their influence on health literacy
• health services
• research communication