Centre for Digital Transformation of Health
Our research addresses the challenges of processing biomedical data, information and knowledge, and facilitating outcomes relating to:
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Precision Medicine
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.
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Participatory Health
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.
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Translational Research
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. -
Advanced Professional Practice
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
Health Informatics (including eHealth) is a transformational force in health around the world, and relies increasingly on new kinds of knowledge required by all of the health professions as well as on a specialised professional workforce.
Our training goal
A goal of the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health is to improve the understanding and use of Health and Biomedical Informatics (HBI) in health care, public health and biomedical science. We have developed a range of programs in eHealth and Biomedical Informatics that will open up pathways for students and health professionals to work effectively with ehealth and biomedical informatics in health profession careers. There is a growing demand for specialised health IT professionals, but a shortage of skilled practitioners in Australia and internationally. The Centre also aims to provide educational activities at the professional-entry level, including in health and the information professions, as detailed in our curriculum.
Given our strong ties with the community, we are also taking leading roles in developing and supporting certification pathways for HBI professionals. This also links with potential research opportunities in redefining health professional roles and restructuring the health workforce.
The mission of the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, established in 2019, is to improve health services and patient self-management through digital innovation. We solve complex real-world problems, generate evidence for changes to practice, and measure health outcomes that matter to patients.
We do this by bringing together researchers, businesses, educators, healthcare professionals, patients and the public. Our approach is hands-on: building an end-to-end pipeline for digital health innovations, including design, development, and technical and clinical evaluation, to facilitate implementation and adoption.
Our vision is connected health — digitally-enabled care to provide a seamless patient journey in which health workers and patients thrive.
Led by Professor Wendy Chapman, the Centre is a part of The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, in partnership with Computing and Information Systems in the Melbourne School of Engineering.
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Our Work
Our research is focused on why and how to describe, collect, store, assure, secure, share, integrate, analyse, visualise and mobilise health data, health information and health knowledge, in order to contribute to planning, problem-solving, decision-making, enquiry and learning in health
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Our people
Encouraging excellence in interdisciplinary and cross-faculty health informatics
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Partnership
The Centre for Digital Transformation of Health works with a wide range of organisations to improve management of health data, information and knowledge for better health outcomes.
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