Digital health and data science research theme

Gathering new data insights to advance diagnostics, treatment and care.

The challenge

Digital technology is changing the way that illnesses in animals and humans are diagnosed, monitored, prevented, treated and experienced. New artificial intelligence (AI) tools are continually being developed and fresh insights are needed to apply these efficiently and effectively to an array of datasets and to use the outputs ethically to hone algorithm design. The ultimate challenge is to move from systems that react to changes in health to those that predict potentially deleterious changes and support early intervention to prevent diseases taking hold.  

Our response

Within our Digital Health and Data Science Research Theme, work to probe datasets of symptoms acquired from internet of things-enabled sensors installed in the homes of patients living with, or at risk of conditions such as dementia, diabetes and cancers, helps prevent both the human and economic cost of hospitalisation. Sensor data from biomechanical analysis of companion animals reveal the impacts of skeletal abnormalities, enabling swifter diagnosis and improved animal welfare. Probing complex datasets - of pathogens, animal hosts and environmental conditions - enables real time detection and diagnosis of zoonotic disease and enhances global surveillance efforts. Exploring how technology can best be used to support clinician patient interactions and monitor and improve sleep reduces demands on health systems.

Research projects

Active projects

Development and feasibility of a self-help psychological intervention to support gluten-free diet management, psychological wellbeing and quality-of-life in children and young people with coeliac disease

Start date: September 2023

End date: September 2024

Engineering Integrated Dementia cAre (EIDA)

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A Phase 2 trial of a 6-week treatment schedule of neoadjuvant nivolumab and ipilimumab in operable MSI high or POLE exonuclease domain mutant colon cancer (CRC).

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Completed projects

Mathematical tools to inform sustainable interventions against schistosomiasis in Uganda

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Modulation of the Wnt signalling in the articular cartilage: Is it all about the dose?

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Utility of read codes for hypoglycaemia in primary care

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Provision of mental health report surveillance

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An in silico structure-based approach to map the allosteric space of membrane receptors

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CBT for psychosis

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Exploiting the full potential of rapid diagnostic test technology and mobile connectivity for improved animal disease detection and control

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Digital transformation and skills

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Dynamic control of brain states using brain stimulation and neuroadaptive Bayesian optimization

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Improving intelligence assessment processes with decision science

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Creating an online resources and longitudinal database of 50 years influenza data: Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) influenza database

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Campylobacter LFD diagnostics for poultry

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Giving children a voice in healthcare encounters: implementing a multi-platform interactive technology with children who have cancer

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Low-cost portable molecular diagnostic platform for rapid detection of poultry infectious pathogens (LPMDP)

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Secondary data analysis of the 2017 haemochromatosis society patient survey

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Circadian rhythms and sleep in the Baependi Heart Study cohort

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Timing, quality, and physiology of sleep in a deprived community cohort in South Africa, and their relationship with chronic disease

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A phase 1 trial of a retinoic acid receptor beta agonist for the treatment of spinal cord injury

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Evaluation and refinement of pandemic influenza community assessment tools

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Exploring experiences of referral for diagnostic investigations and attitudes towards the new faster diagnostic standard

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Development of an automated electrocardiogram analysis for the prediction of horses at risk for cardiac arrhythmias

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Enemy at the gate: a novel mechanism of paracrine stress granule induction by viruses

Start date: January 2018

End date: May 2021

JPND: Systems analysis of key nodes in neurodegenerative diseases

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Identification of vaccine and diagnostic candidate antigens based on reverse and structural vaccinology and the immunoproteomics of Leptospira spp.

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Evaluation of technological and resource alternatives for carbon feedstock to support a raw materials transition in the German industry

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Investigating the contribution of stress granules to mRNA translation during viral infection

Start date: March 2017

End date: April 2017

Activating innovative IoT smart living environments for ageing well

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Morphological computation of perception and action

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TIHM: Technology integrated health management

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COMMANDO-HUMANS: COMputational Modelling and Automatic Non-intrusive Detection Of HUMan BehAviour Based iNSecurity

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PROSO - Promoting societal engagement under the terms of RRI

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'Getting down to coping' On-line self-management after treatment for prostate cancer: A feasability study

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Multidisciplinary tools for improving the efficacy of public prevention measures against smoking

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A study of metagenomics-informed biochemical functionality of microbial fuel cells using DDGS as a substrate

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The role of the cellular economics in the expression of exogenous genes: Towards modularity in synthetic circuit design

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BRIDGE HEALTH - BRidging Information and Data Generation for Evidence-based health policy and research

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The first small molecule inhibitors of the DNA repair enzyme AAG for use as investigational tools and `chemoprotective` drug leads: design, synthesis and bioassay

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Metamorphoses: Gaming art and science with ovid

Start date: October 2014

End date: April 2016

Predictive analysis of network activation in response to lipid loading in the liver

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A systems biology approach to neural crest development: The role of noise in fate choice from bipotent precursors

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Randomised controlled trial to evaluate electronic symptom management using the advanced symptom management system (ASyMS) remote technology for patients with cancers

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Thermal treatment of bladder wall tissue and the impact on contractile function

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Development, implementation and evaluation of the True NTH Supported Self Management and Follow Up Care Programme

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Risk-assessed exercise and diet (REDI): Stage one - proof of concept

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EPSRC IRC in early-warning sensing systems for infectious diseases

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Ethics training in the social care sector

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A web-based intervention to reduce distress after prostate cancer treatment: Development and feasibility of the getting down to coping program in two different clinical settings

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Surrey and Shanghai Jiao Tong partnership on visceral organ sensory research during ageing

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Research theme members

Research theme champions

Jo Armes profile image

Professor Jo Armes

Digital Health and Data Science, Research Theme Champion

Tibor Auer profile image

Dr Tibor Auer

Digital Health and Data Science, Associate Research Theme Champion

Postgraduate research opportunities

Our research news

Getty Images

24 APR 2020

New guidance to support psychological needs of nursing staff during Covid-19 pandemic

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