The consortium will promote the secure utilize of artificial intelligence and genomics
With federal government funding, a consortium will be established to promote the secure utilize of advanced analytics to improve the diagnosis of genetic diseases.
The Centre for Population Genomics, a joint initiative of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Murdoch Institute of Children’s Research, has received an A$8 million ($5.4 million) grant from the Future of Medical Research Fund to establish the Australian Alliance for Secure Genomics and Artificial Intelligence in Sporadic Diseases (AASGARD).
In Australia, at least one in 17 people suffer from genetic diseases such as muscular dystrophy. Half of patients reportedly cannot receive a certain diagnosis and access crucial modern precision medicines.
“[The AASGARD consortium] “We will develop and rigorously test new AI-based analytical tools, apply them to help tens of thousands of Australian patients, and then share the framework and knowledge we develop so others can benefit,” said Daniel MacArthur, professor and director of the Centre for Population Genomics.
The consortium will include international partners: Microsoft Research, Genomics England and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
National Inter-University Network Promoting Digital and Data Solutions for Healthcare
Australia’s first national university network has been established to promote the application of digital technologies, computing and data science to healthcare across the country.
The 36-university Australian Senior Academic Leaders Council for Digital Health “will help accelerate the integration of digital health research into practice,” said Annette Schmiede, CEO of the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC). The council will be chaired by Clair Sullivan, professor and director of the Queensland Digital Health Research Centre at the University of Queensland.
According to the DHCRC, the council will focus on providing strategic leadership for digital health research, strengthening digital health education and research, advocating for investments in digital health education and research, and helping to enhance the impact of higher education institutions.
Solutions to problems related to the implementation and utilize of digital technologies in healthcare and improving the qualifications of current and future employees will also be explored.
eHealth NSW to expand CDNP to rural Sydney
The platform, which is set to improve communication between hospitals and ambulances in Sydney, will be expanded to rural areas and remote towns in the second half of the year.
The Clinical Device Notification Platform (CDNP) aims to streamline communications for the state capital’s 70 ambulance stations and 12 hospitals, enabling paramedics and doctors to provide timely diagnoses and expert advice. It is being delivered by eHealth NSW, in partnership with NSW Ambulance, NSW local health districts and the Clinical Innovation Agency.
In April, modern communication capabilities were added to CDNP, including in-app audio calling, messaging and image sharing, to streamline information delivery and facilitate information sharing between paramedics, emergency physicians and cardiologists.