New Zealand's Investment in New Studies Deploying AI to Enhance Healthcare

Announcement

The Health Research Council of New Zealand invested NZ$4.6 million ($2.7 million) in the 10 new studies with the help of AI to enhance healthcare. It consists of projects to improve post-operative monitoring, extend community eye screening, and leverage radiology reporting. The funding is one part of NZ$71.4 million ($42 million) national package contributing to 50 health research initiatives involving additional backing for discovered new projects and career researchers. A huge part of this served grants to projects and programmes identifying priority concerns like improving breast cancer survival, improving clinical trials and breast cancer survival, developing an mRNA measles vaccine, and optimizing nutrition for preterm infants, covering the area from aneurysm management to pediatric emergency asthma care.

UNSW’s Study in Australia

A research project at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) received a $2.95million ($1.9 million) award from the Australian federal government to adopt genomic and AI data to forecast patient response to antidepressants. The UNSW’s project is associated with Professor Kathy Wu, focusing on personalizing treatment and diminishing trial-and-error prescribing. It is a part of the UNSW genomics projects granted a merged A$4.92 million ($3.2 million) under the Medical Research Future Fund’s Genomics Health Futures Mission. The mission contributes to precision health, rare disease, and research in cancer. The remaining UNSW projects aim to extend genomic diversity and enhance access to genetic testing in remote and regional areas.

Lumia, Nepean, and Telestroke’s Lumia are taking Steps Towards Incorporating AI

Lumia Care is combining AI into its nursing services via a new collaboration with the digital health company RxPx, focusing on uplifting personalized at-home care and providing patient safety monitoring throughout Australia. The Nepean Radiology, a leading private diagnostic imaging center in Penrith, NSW, has introduced a new AI-enabled CT scanner. The scanner is enabled by GE Healthcare, enabling quality imaging for complicated cases like atrial fibrillation, stent monitoring, and heavy coronary calcification. It involves protocol selection and automated positioning.

The Victorian telestroke inpatient service is a one-of-a-kind service provider in Australia, enabling direct virtual availability to stroke and neurology specialists. The ambulance Victoria has revealed a new telemedicine service for regional stroke patients. The service, first deployed at Werribee Mercy Hospital, expands the Victorian stroke telemedicine program into the region. Investment in technological adoption within the healthcare sector is rapidly increasing for regional development purposes.