349 - Exploring Innovation Pathways in Digital Health at University NSW

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch takes us on an exciting journey through the dynamic landscape of HealthTech during Digital Health Week at UNSW .  Co-hosted by the University of Melbourne , University of Sydney , and the University of New South Wales, this gathering of digital health researchers aims to foster innovation and collaboration, and nurture early-career colleagues and graduates.

This episode will explore the space between hype and hope in AI, alternative career pathways post-PhD, the entrepreneurial spirit in healthtech and a lot more.

Harnessing AI in Healthcare: An Interview with Farah Magrabi

In the first interview, host Peter Birch spoke with Professor Farah Magrabi , an expert in Biomedical and Health Informatics at Macquarie University . The focus of their conversation was the fascinating role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, particularly its application in clinical settings.

Prof. Magrabi detailed how AI systems are being implemented in healthcare, from the much-discussed GPT-3 chatbots to the application of machine learning algorithms in medical devices. This reflects the shift in medical device regulations, which now consider software as a medical device (SaMD), specifically when incorporating AI capabilities.

Clinician and Patient Facing Artificial Intelligence tools

The interview also touched on AI's potential in imaging and diagnostics, an area that has garnered significant attention. However, Prof. Magrabi stressed the importance of considering both clinician-facing and consumer-facing tools, with an emphasis on the former for her presentation during the event.

Interestingly, Prof. Magrabi highlighted the opportunity for AI to streamline administrative tasks in healthcare. She agreed with the assertion that AI could greatly reduce the burdensome paperwork often associated with healthcare practice, making clinicians' lives easier and allowing them to focus more on patient care.

Looking ahead, Prof. Magrabi expressed excitement about co-chairing the upcoming World Congress of Medical Informatics (MedInfo). She anticipates crucial discussions on AI's role in healthcare and the intersection of digital health and climate change, noting that the healthcare sector contributes significantly to global emissions.

Overall, Prof. Magrabi's insights underline the vast potential of AI in healthcare, not only in diagnostics and treatment but also in streamlining administrative tasks and addressing broader societal issues like climate change. Her contributions highlight the importance of ongoing discussion and innovation in the health tech space.

Exploring 23Strands: Revolutionising Reproductive Health with AI and Genomics

Mark G. , the CEO and Chairman of 23Strands , joined Pete for an in-depth discussion on the Talking HealthTech podcast in this feature episode about Digital Health Week 2023. 

Mark’s journey has led him to develop an innovative approach that combines whole genome sequencing, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionise reproductive health. 

A Gap in the Market: Serving Clinicians

While many companies are targeting the direct-to-consumer space, 23Strands is focusing on an often-neglected segment: clinicians. The company recognises that these highly educated professionals are often underserved in the current market, with their time and resources stretched thin by the sheer volume of data they need to sift through. 23Strands’ solution leverages AI to assist clinicians, making it possible to process vast amounts of data efficiently and accurately.

The Power of AI: Crunching Data and Delivering Insights

A clear example of the potential of AI in healthcare is how 23Strands used it to analyse COVID-19 research. The company developed an AI approach to natural language processing, which enabled them to sift through and extract essential information from over a hundred thousand COVID-19 papers published in just nine months. This AI-driven approach not only provides a unique view of the patient but also holds the potential to act as a catalyst for transforming healthcare delivery.

Building a Comprehensive Platform

23Strands has built a comprehensive platform to guide patients throughout their journey. The platform manages everything from blood collection to whole genome sequencing, and finally, delivering the report back to the doctor. This holistic approach fills a significant gap in the market and has the potential to bring immense value to the sector.

A Call to Action: AI and Genomics in Australia

Mark Grosser also spoke about the pressing need for Australia to embrace AI and genomics more fully. He pointed out that Australia is at a crossroads, with some leading institutions like UNSW and UTS offering support but governmental funding environments lagging.

For Australia to keep pace with the rest of the world, it must invest more heavily in AI and genomics. Creating an artificial intelligence centre of excellence would be a significant step in the right direction.

Making Medical Imaging Safer: An Interview with Arash Atashnama, Founder of DeepMeds

Arash Atashnama , founder of DeepMeds , has an ambitious mission: to revolutionise the medical imaging field. His company aims to make examinations such as MRI or CT scans significantly safer and more affordable for both patients and clinics. 

Atashnama first crossed paths with Peter Birch at a Talking HealthTech Summit during the infamous Speed Networking sessions. Having since established a connection, he is now eager to share his journey with a broader audience, especially the solutions DeepMeds is developing to address existing challenges in the medical imaging sector.

The Origins of DeepMeds

DeepMeds was established around a year ago, with the team initially focusing on product development. The venture then joined the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Accelerator program, which played an instrumental role in helping validate their business model and foster industry connections.

Through the program, they honed a business model they believe will succeed in real-world applications. The team's confidence grew after speaking with medical imaging centres, providing them with an understanding of the demands and challenges in the sector.

Building the MVP

DeepMeds' primary goal was to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), demonstrating the technical feasibility of their solution. The MVP, built on a dataset of over 800 patients' brain MRI images, represents one of the largest studies of its kind.

Following the feasibility study, the team now aims to deploy their MVP in clinics across Australia, testing it with real-world data on an expanded dataset. This approach will provide valuable insights into how radiologists interact with their product, offering opportunities for necessary tweaks or additional features.

The AI Revolution in Medical Imaging

DeepMeds is developing an AI-based solution aimed at reducing the dosage of contrast agents in medical imaging examinations such as MRI or CT scans. Contrast agents are chemicals injected into a patient's vein to enhance image quality. Despite their market presence for over 50 years, their application has remained largely traditional, untouched by technological advancements.

However, the advent of AI and deep learning technologies heralds a significant shift. Contrast agents, despite their usefulness, can pose side effects and aren't safe for all patient groups, including those with kidney issues, pregnant women, and children. By leveraging AI, DeepMeds aims to reduce the dosage of contrast agents by at least 80%, potentially avoiding misdiagnosis and enhancing patient safety.

Funding the Future

Acquiring funding is one of the major hurdles for ventures like DeepMeds. However, Atashnama believes that Australia's supportive ecosystem, comprising various grants and accelerator programs like UNSW's, is instrumental in overcoming this challenge. Such support allows startups to validate their MVP and business model, enabling them to present a robust proposition to potential investors.

In 2023, DeepMeds' immediate goal is to bring their MVP into clinics for the validation phase. They aim to work with researchers to publish their findings in peer-reviewed publications. For this, Atashnama stresses the importance of support from radiology societies, venture capitalists, and angel investors to bring their innovative product to life. By embracing a future-oriented approach to medical imaging, DeepMeds is poised to change the industry for the better, improving patient safety and cutting costs for clinics.

Rehabilitating Spinal Cord Injuries: An Exclusive Interview with RehabExo's Founder Monzurul Alam

Monzurul Alam , fondly known as Monz, is a research fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and the dynamic founder of RehabExo . Monz has dedicated 15 years to research in the field of spinal cord injury rehabilitation. He has successfully married his passion for research with his entrepreneurial instincts, leading to the creation of RehabExo.

Monzurul Alam: A Background in Neuroscience

Alam's academic journey has been extensive. After earning his PhD in neuroscience, he served as a postdoc at UCLA, California, where his interest in spinal cord neuromodulation took root. The groundbreaking techniques he learned there have since been implemented in various laboratories in Australia, including his own at NeuRA.

Monz's research revolves around the concept of neuromodulation – a process that can be achieved pharmacologically or electrically. This method has shown promising results in patients with spinal cord injuries, leading to significant recoveries. However, Alam noticed a stark gap in the market. Despite the effectiveness of these treatments, there was no commercial product available. Intent on bridging this gap, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey.

RehabExo: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Commercial Products

RehabExo's vision is clear: to translate research into practical, accessible solutions. The company aims to develop a stimulator, a device that can deliver electric neuromodulation therapy, which is currently costly and bulky. The goal is to reduce the size of the stimulator to that of a pacemaker, making it portable and more accessible to patients with paralysis.

An essential part of Alam's plan is the UNSW Founders Program, which provides invaluable resources and support for entrepreneurs like him. This program has allowed Alam to take full advantage of the MCIC workshop at UNSW and collaborate with students to develop different modules for the stimulator.

The Future of Rehabilitation Technology: Exoskeletons and Neuromodulation

Alam is also looking towards the future of rehabilitation technology with the development of in-house exoskeletons. Exoskeletons are fast becoming a booming industry and are seen as a vital rehabilitation tool for people with paralysis. By developing their own exoskeletons, RehabExo plans to significantly reduce costs and combine this technology with neuromodulation for a more effective treatment.

The challenge, Alam acknowledges, lies in shifting priorities from academia to practical application. As a researcher, the focus is often on publishing results in high-impact journals, leaving little room for direct translation and commercialisation. However, he is motivated by a desire to make a real difference in people's lives, taking the necessary risks to translate knowledge into tangible products.

Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs in Research

Monz encourages other researchers to consider the potential impact their work could have on society. Universities, he believes, play a critical role in fostering this entrepreneurial spirit among staff. He points to the Staff Entrepreneurial Program at UNSW as an excellent example of a programme designed to help staff not only publish high-impact papers but also translate their findings into viable solutions.

Alam's journey is a testament to the fusion of research and entrepreneurship. His venture, RehabExo, is paving the way for innovative solutions in the field of spinal cord injury rehabilitation. As he rightly concludes, the process might be a sharp learning curve, but it's also a fun one, filled with camaraderie and shared experiences.

Rounding Up Digital Health Week 2023

In conclusion, this engaging episode of Talking HealthTech has provided a riveting insight into the transformative power of AI in healthcare. We discussed the promising applications of AI, from streamlining administrative tasks to revolutionising medical imaging and reproductive health. These discussions, from Digital Health Week at UNSW, emphasised the importance of collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit in healthtech. They also stressed the need for Australia to invest more in AI and genomics to keep pace globally. The profiles of ambitious ventures like 23Strands, DeepMeds, and RehabExo underscore the exciting potential of AI in healthcare, highlighting a future where healthcare is more efficient, accurate, and patient-centred. This exciting journey through the healthtech landscape promises not only to redefine healthcare delivery but also to address broader societal issues such as climate change, underscoring the importance of embracing the digital revolution in healthcare.