Human-centred technology & AI for health
Convergence challenge
Our health system is under major pressure. By 2050, one in six people will be over 65 years old, and more people will live with one or more chronic diseases. Given the anticipated workforce shortages and lack of resources to extend the workforce, health technologies & AI need to offer radically new ways to meet the demand for healthcare (employees). At the same time to users – clinicians and patients alike – technological interventions must match their perceptual, cognitive and physical capacities to increase their performance and wellbeing. New technologies and AI tools should also be safe, accessible, affordable and inclusive for society, resulting in proper treatment for everyone.
Health technologies and AI are the basis of a more personalized life course approach to health and health care. Personalized healthcare can improve the accuracy of diagnosis, optimize treatments and minimize side effects. All of these lead to enhanced resilience, faster resumption of daily activities, and a longer period of healthy and active living. Additionally, by developing technology and AI tools to support preventive strategies, early diagnostics, and improved prognostics, we can change our approach to health(care) from a reactive to a proactive approach where we empower and motivate citizens to take control of their own health. With the successful introduction of such technologies in society, in collaboration with the other themes, these advances are vital in improving health and quality of life, reducing the burden on the health care system, and addressing socioeconomic inequalities in health.
Community
Our community depends on the focus and phase of development of the project, and the involved disciplines include, amongst others, clinicians, engineers, physicists, chemists, clinical technicians, designers, computer scientists, psychologists, health economists, and operational researchers. To let innovation find its way to the market, not only researchers from the convergence institutes should be involved, but also users from start-ups, small and large medical (device) companies, entrepreneurs, business developers, IP advisers, quality assurance and regulatory affairs advisor and the regional economic development agency. They should be involved in an early stage of the project.
To enable the innovation to be used in healthcare, it is paramount to co-create timely with patients, healthcare foundations, insurance companies, representatives of (local) government, and the regional economic development agency.
Research
Through convergence, we will design, engineer, guide the adaptation of- and evaluate new technologies and tools, and conduct fundamental research. In all stages of the design and development, the human perspective, from the point of the clinician, patient and citizen, will be considered. This reflects the profoundly human-centred and collaborative nature of engineering and will result in next-generation technology and AI for health and healthcare. We can only efficiently and effectively tackle the Human-centered Technology & AI for Health challenges when the different relevant expertise are integrated. Hence, all activities within the theme have a solid transdisciplinary character.
Importantly, we will involve the next generation by incorporating PhD, MSc and BSc students of the different education programs of the convergence universities in the interdisciplinary teams that drive this theme.
In all stages of the design and development, the human perspective, from the point of the clinician, patient and citizen, will be taken into account.
Theme leads
Want to know more or participate in one of the themes, please feel free to get in touch with the theme leads.
