Innovation

Groundbreaking research making a difference

PURPLE platform for future of pancreatic cancer research

20 November 2025

WEHI today launched the PURPLE Translational Platform which will bring together patients, clinicians and researchers to accelerate breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer treatment. The centralised hub is designed to support the development of new approaches to treating the disease and improve patient access to clinical trials. It connects the right patient with the right clinical trial, […]

Gene discoveries improve diagnosis of heart disease

14 November 2025

Sydney’s Centenary Institute researchers have uncovered new genetic causes of inherited heart conditions, providing families with vital answers to guide treatment and prevention. Inherited heart conditions affect more than one in every 200 Australians and are a major cause of illness and premature death. The study, published in Genetics in Medicine, re-examined data from the Australian […]

Tallaght study highlights benefits of at-home H. pylori testing

13 November 2025

A new study from Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) has demonstrated the significant advantages of telemedicine and at-home testing for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The research, recently published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, found that a simple at-home Urea Breath Test (UBT) offers a faster, more convenient, and highly accurate alternative to traditional in-clinic […]

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre partners with ANDHealth

13 November 2025

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is the latest Australian health centre to team up with ANDHealth to gain early access and insights to some of Australia’s most innovative digital and connected health technology solutions. The partnership will further enable Peter Mac to access and implement evidence-based, cutting-edge digital and connected health solutions to help it […]

An eye for early disease detection

7 November 2025

A new research initiative will use artificial intelligence (AI) and retinal imaging as a “window to whole-body health”. The project is led by the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC), with Monash University and Optain Health. Researchers will develop a foundational AI model capable of detecting a wide range of systemic diseases – including cardiovascular […]

ANDHealth takes digital health tech successes to Canberra

5 November 2025

More than 3.4 million patients have now been positively impacted and over 510 new, high-value jobs created through digital and connected health technologies developed by 28 ANDHealth+ portfolio companies, it was revealed at the ANDHealth Digital and Connected Health Commercialisation Showcase event in Canberra today. ANDHealth Founder and Chief Executive Officer Bronwyn Le Grice said […]

Rural aged care could capitalise on digital health – review

5 November 2025

A Flinders University review of digital health adoption in aged care in Australia found rural and regional aged care services need greater support to realise the full benefits of new technologies. The scoping review, published in the International Journal of Medical Informatics, analysed 48 Australian studies exploring how health professionals experience digital health in aged care. […]

Digital Library sheds light on complexity of GP consultations

31 October 2025

Monash researchers have used the National Centre for Healthy Ageing’s (NCHA) Digital Library to reveal the complexity of GP and patient healthcare interactions. The NCHA’s Digital Library is Australia’s first secure digitised collection of real-world consultations between GPs and their adult patients, plus related data including anonymised transcripts, patient survey logs and participant demographic data. […]

Monash AI researcher awarded $1.375m fellowship

30 October 2025

A Monash University researcher is the first AI scientist to receive a Viertel Fellowship worth $1.375 million to advance pioneering research in AI-driven healthcare. The Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, in association with Bellberry – a not-for-profit organisation supporting research projects across Australia – announced three recipients of the 2025 Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowships. […]

New model a breakthrough in rare disease management

29 October 2025

A world-first AI-powered disease progression model for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a milestone in the application of digital health technologies for rare disease management and precision medicine. The model has been developed through a collaboration between Swinburne University of Technology, the FSHD Global Research Foundation, the National Imaging Facility (NIF) and Springbok Analytics. It […]

AI support to diagnose hip dysplasia sooner

20 October 2025

New research from the Royal Australasian College of Physician’s Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health indicates that AI could soon transform how doctors diagnose hip dysplasia in children across Australia and around the world. The findings show that AI has the potential to deliver expert-level accuracy, increase diagnostic efficiency, reduce healthcare disparities, and make early diagnosis more […]

Smart devices could monitor and treat heart disease – research

17 October 2025

Smart devices that utilise artificial intelligence have “enormous potential” to treat heart disease and New Zealand could be at the forefront – given the right investment – according to a leading scientist at the University of Auckland. A group of heart scientists led by University of Auckland professor Julian Paton have gathered latest research on […]

AI shown to boost diagnosis in emergency dept

14 October 2025

New research led by the Australian Institute of Health Innovation (AIHI) at Macquarie University shows that artificial intelligence (AI) used for on-the-spot interpretation of chest x-rays in hospital emergency departments increases the rate of correct diagnosis by 5.9%. The research published in the Emergency Medicine Journal evaluated the use by doctors of an AI tool, […]

National collaboration to transform brain injury care

9 October 2025

A new national data asset initiative, Connect-TBI, led by Monash University researchers, will bring together over 60 experts from across Australia to transform clinical care for Australians who experience moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). Funding for Connect-TBI comes from the Medical Research Future Fund. The program – spearheaded by Chief Investigator Professor Belinda Gabbe, Head […]

CSIRO highlights need for Indigenous-led approach to AI in healthcare

7 October 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) has potential to improve healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, according to a new report from CSIRO. The report was a collaboration between CSIRO scientists and Indigenous partner organisations and recommends the safe and effective use of AI “must be guided by Indigenous voices and knowledge.” CSIRO research scientist and […]

AI ‘epilepsy detective’ spots early warning signs

1 October 2025

Australian researchers have created an advanced AI tool that can detect tiny brain lesions that cause severe epilepsy in children, a development they say will allow faster diagnosis, more precise treatment and even a potential cure. Developed by a team at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), the ‘AI epilepsy […]

Researchers use AI for eye disease prevention

23 September 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) can spot which young adults need treatment to prevent vision loss, according to research recently presented at the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. Researchers looked at people with keratoconus, a visual impairment that generally develops in teenagers and young adults and tends to worsen into adulthood. The […]

Innovators tackling cognitive decline share $16m funding

22 September 2025

Perx Health, the NSW developer of a digital care management program, is one of seven innovative companies to receive a share of nearly $16 million funding from the CUREator + Dementia and Cognitive Decline BioMedTech Incubator. Perx Health will receive $1.3 million to advance its care management program, which improves treatment adherence and health outcomes across […]

WA govt accelerates innovation

18 September 2025

Five health initiatives including robotic bronchoscopy for patients with lung cancer, medical computing infrastructure and a digital program to validate work in Western Australia’s public healthcare system have received funding from the State Government. They are all affiliated with The University of Western Australia and funded by the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund through […]

EU and Australia open talks on research and innovation

17 September 2025

The European Commission and Australian Government have launched non-binding exploratory discussions regarding Australia’s possible association to Horizon Europe – the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme. Horizon Europe’s new strategic plan for 2025-2027 includes a Health Cluster work programme focused on strengthening healthcare resilience, leveraging biotechnology and artificial intelligence and addressing public health needs – […]

Where art meets science

16 September 2025

WEHI’s Art of Science 2025 “where stunning imagery meets medical research” has announced this year’s winners and the exhibition opened online today. First place for a still went to Niall Geoghegan, Sai Lekkala and Alex Uboldi for “Jellyfish Swarm”. In this image a swarm of microscopic Toxoplasma parasites search for a cell to invade, resembling a jellyfish […]

Study calls for national strategy on digital health education

15 September 2025

Tertiary education offerings for critical areas of digital health including cybersecurity, telehealth, virtual care and ethics remain “significantly underrepresented” across Australian universities, according to a new study. The study, published in the International Journal of Medical Informatics included a systematic web-based review of all 42 Australian universities, resulting in 18 dedicated digital health courses and […]

Using data at scale: Are we OK with that?

11 September 2025

The public’s willingness to share health data varies widely and there are challenges around privacy, consent and transparency. But Queensland researchers have found the majority of people are willing to share their health data for research organisations. A systematic review conducted by researchers at the Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC) at the University of Queensland […]

Neurodesk wins iAward for technology platform

11 September 2025

Neurodesk, an open-source brain imaging platform developed by Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC), has claimed a prestigious 2025 iAward in the Technology Platform category. QDHeC says the award validates Neurodesk’s revolutionary approach to scientific reproducibility and education. As an open-source platform for brain imaging research, Neurodesk is transforming how scientists share their work and train […]

Celebrating a decade of MRFF

10 September 2025

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) this week celebrated its tenth anniversary, with Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler commending its contribution to priority health and medical research. Over the past decade, funding from the MRFF has supported over 1690 highly promising Australian-based research projects resulting in new innovations and treatments which have transformed […]

GP-led research grants awarded

9 September 2025

The Australian General Practice Research Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the RACGP, has awarded more than $800,000 to the recipients of the 2025 Research Grants and Awards. The projects which include digital and AI focused research, will see GPs, registrars, students and researchers across Australia tackling some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare, from […]

Boosting public trust with real-world health data

5 September 2025

A new guideline called TARGET is set to increase public trust in studies using real-world data to investigate the benefit and harms of health and medical interventions. Researchers believe the guideline will assist patients, clinicians and policy makers. Using real-world data from electronic medical records and registries helps researchers answer important medical and healthcare questions […]

AI camera could be a sight-saver

4 September 2025

A new Australian study has found an automated artificial intelligence (AI) camera can accurately detect diabetic eye disease with more than 93 per cent accuracy in non-eye care settings. The findings of a two-year Australian trial, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, show the potential of AI to increase access to sight-saving eye screenings. More […]

Global leader in virology and genomics wins GSK Award

3 September 2025

University of Sydney Professor of Virology Edward Holmes has been awarded the 2025 GSK Award for Research Excellence (ARE). He has been recognised for his pioneering use of metatranscriptomics and artificial intelligence (AI) to identify viruses, improve diagnostics and better understand how infectious disease epidemics emerge. Metatranscriptomics is the process of sequencing all genetic material in […]

Uni of Wollongong to lead AI in health ethics initiative

1 September 2025

The University of Wollongong (UOW) will lead a national $2.25 million initiative to address the emerging ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence-related health research, following a successful National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Projects scheme grant application. Led by UOW’s Australian Centre for Health Engagement, Evidence and Values director Professor Stacy Carter, the […]

Online tool could revolutionise treatment of high blood pressure

29 August 2025

A first-of-its-kind online tool, a Blood Pressure Treatment Efficacy Calculator, built on data from nearly 500 randomised clinical trials in over 100,000 people, allows doctors to calculate the extent that different medications are likely to lower a patient’s blood pressure. The research, published today in The Lancet, could transform how the condition is managed, allowing doctors to […]

EXL launches AI Innovation Lab

21 August 2025

Global data and AI company EXL has launched an AI Innovation Lab in Dublin. The new centre will be dedicated to the research and development of cutting-edge, industry-specific AI solutions, and will initially employ 60 highly skilled professionals. The lab is designed to expand the capabilities of the company’s EXLerate.AI platform by developing next-generation AI […]

X-ray reporting gets AI boost

11 August 2025

Researchers from CSIRO’s Australian e-Health Research Centre have developed a world-first method to teach artificial intelligence (AI) how to write more accurate chest X-ray reports by giving it the same information doctors use in real life. Using more than 46,000 real-world patient cases from a leading US hospital dataset, the team trained a powerful multimodal […]

NZ’s GP scribe uptake highlighted by Otago Uni study

11 August 2025

Many New Zealand GPs have taken up using AI scribes regardless of ongoing legal and ethical challenges – and despite concerns about data security, patient consent and potential impacts on doctor-patient relationships, according to a new study from the University of Otago. Forty per cent of those surveyed reported using AI scribes to take patient […]

Data the key to better outcomes for people with disability

8 August 2025

Researchers can now apply to access the National Disability Data Asset which brings together a wealth of de-identified data from across Australia including federal, state and territory governments. The data is used to give a more complete picture of the programs and services people with disability use and to share information about ways to improve […]

Waikato Uni virtual dissection table a NZ-first

8 August 2025

The University of Waikato has introduced New Zealand’s first virtual dissection table, a move it says is the “next step forward” in health education and training in the country. Waikato University pro vice-chancellor of health Professor Jo Lane said the technology was set to play a central role in the digital-first approach of New Zealand’s […]

Invisible material could revolutionise smart tech

7 August 2025

A powerful electricity-conducting material has been developed which could revolutionise smartphones and wearable technologies like medical devices. Scientists at La Trobe University have developed a new technique which uses hyaluronic acid, well known due to its popularity in skincare, applied directly to a gold-plated surface to create a thinner, more durable film, or polymer, used […]

Research rundown on COVID-19

6 August 2025

A Swinburne database holding a wealth of information on COVID-19 could help prevent the devastation of future pandemics. To help prevent mass deaths and other harms, like deteriorating mental health and economic downfall, Swinburne says the database has combined ‘everything we know about COVID-19’ into one comprehensive rundown. The new study published in Nature analysed over 800,000 […]

Digital health strategies tested against valued-based care

5 August 2025

Implementing value-based healthcare (VBHC) in digital health is ‘complex’ and although strategies generally align with VBHC principles, there is ‘room for improvement’. These comments are made in a study of 14 Australian strategic digital health documents which were mapped to VBHC principles. The study identified 10 key processes it says would guide the development of […]

Monash Ventures announces $15m new pre-seed funding

4 August 2025

An electronically controlled wearable patch, described as a breakthrough in the future of drug delivery technology, is one of the first recipients of the new $15 million Monash Ventures Pre-Seed Fund. Remagine Labs is making wearable, electronically controlled transdermal drug delivery systems for people living with chronic conditions. The team works in partnership with the Monash […]

Philips monitoring tech offers significant gains for Royal Perth Hospital

4 August 2025

A study into remote continuous vital sign monitoring for scoliosis surgery patients has shown a meaningful shift in post-operative care, reducing intensive care hours by 69 per cent and saving thousands of dollars per patient. A collaborative study between Royal Perth Hospital and technology provider Philips, published in Anesthesia & Analgesia, looks at the economic […]

Breakthrough for interRAI systems

1 August 2025

A new feasibility study by the Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC) has found it is feasible to map interRAI clinical assessment data elements to SNOMED CT, a major step toward enabling integrated digital health systems across aged care, hospital, and community settings. By standardising interRAI data, such tools can enable real-time clinical decision support, reduce […]

Germicidal UV tech combats respiratory infections in aged care

1 August 2025

Simple technology that harnesses ultraviolet light to ‘zap’ airborne viruses has been shown to significantly lower the number of respiratory infections in aged care facilities, paving the way for smarter infection control. Adapted by scientists from Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), the technology […]

Reducing wound infections with Bluetooth-enabled wearables

31 July 2025

RMIT University researchers have developed a wearable wound monitoring device with integrated sensors they say could reduce infection risks by minimising the need for frequent physical contact. The researchers said standard methods required regular removal of wound dressings for assessments – which often delayed timely interventions, but instead, their invention monitored healing remotely via a […]

Digital, AI drivers for productivity says Research Australia

29 July 2025

National peak body Research Australia is calling on the Federal Government to formally recognise health and medical research, development and innovation as a cornerstone of Australia’s productivity and economic growth strategy. Research Australia has made a submission to the Treasury’s three-day Economic Reform Roundtable taking place in Canberra August 19-21. It says health and medical […]

Issues with AI learning model

22 July 2025

Federated learning may minimise data-sharing challenges, however it introduces new governance complexities that healthcare organisations are not adequately prepared for. Unlike traditional machine learning that centralises patient data, federated learning allows AI models to be trained across multiple healthcare institutions without sharing sensitive patient information. A scoping review published by a team of researchers from […]

Share your research at HIKM

21 July 2025

The 18th Health Informatics Knowledge Management Conference (HIKM) takes place in a fully online format on September 16 and 17, 2025. The deadline for call for papers has passed and HIKM is now seeking tutorial proposals to be received by August 18. The deadline for poster submissions is August 4. Posters will be displayed on the […]

Health data the national asset, say research leaders

18 July 2025

A digital health and health data infrastructure workshop co-hosted by industry peaks has announced strong recognition of the need for coordinated, system-wide solutions to unlock the potential of health data as a national asset. Research Australia and Digital Health CRC co-hosted the virtual workshop in June, with 25 representatives from 18 organisations, all participants from […]

‘AI is not intelligent at all’: Why our dignity is at risk

18 July 2025

The age of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed our interactions, but threatens human dignity on a worldwide scale, according to a study led by Charles Darwin University (CDU). Study lead author Dr Maria Randazzo, an academic from CDU’s School of Law, found the technology was reshaping Western legal and ethical landscapes at unprecedented speed but was undermining […]

Outdated Medicare rules ‘exclude homebound’

17 July 2025

Outdated rules governing telehealth in Australia are keeping it out of reach for people who need it the most, according to Flinders University researchers. The research, led by Flinders’ Dr Maria Alejandra Pinero de Plaza, looked at how well telehealth worked for people who are homebound – unable to leave the house due to chronic […]

AI-driven blood tests could detect cancer

16 July 2025

UNSW Sydney scientists are working to develop Australia’s first commercialised lipid-based blood test for breast cancer detection powered by artificial intelligence (AI), with a version of it already being used in clinics. Associate Professor Fatemeh Vafaee and her team at the Vafaee Lab envision developing AI-enabled blood testing platforms to detect and monitor a range of cancers […]

Innovative researcher awarded

15 July 2025

The National Ageing Research Institute’s Principal Research Fellow Professor Tuan Anh Nguyen has been awarded the prestigious Atlantic Fellowship for Equity in Brain Health for the 2025–2026 cohort. A leading expert in ageing and dementia at NARI, Professor Nguyen has been at the forefront of efforts to improve brain health equity for vulnerable populations. The fellowship […]

On the frontline of digital solutions tackling pathogen control

14 July 2025

Australians were confronted with the world of deadly pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic. From daily news coverage to social media, medical professionals and others, the public sought information on viruses and vaccinations. For researchers at CSIRO’s Australian e-Health Research Centre, the quest continues. “What makes a vaccine successful?”, “How might a virus evolve to […]

Harnessing mRNA to prevent and slow Alzheimer’s

11 July 2025

The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health will receive more than $535,000 for two projects that will use mRNA technology to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s affects more than 470,000 Australians and without breakthrough treatments, this number will more than double by 2058. The funding, announced by Victoria’s Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson MP, enables […]

Australian scientists use AI to fight bacteria with synthetic proteins

10 July 2025

Australian scientists have used artificial intelligence (AI) to generate a ready-to-use biological protein that can kill antibiotic resistant bacteria like E. coli, in what is believed to be a first of its kind development in Australia. The study published in Nature Communications describes a new way to combat the “growing crisis” caused by antibiotic resistant […]

RMIT medtech invention goes to market

3 July 2025

An ingestible gas-sensing capsule invented at RMIT to provide real-time insights into gut health has been cleared for use in the United States. The Atmo Gas Capsule – which helps diagnose gut disorders from gases it measures while travelling through the digestive system – has just received regulatory clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. […]

Tech4Endo project shares in €23million Research Ireland funding

3 July 2025

A University College Dublin initiative aiming to develop technology to support women with endometriosis will share in the new €23 million Research Ireland funding for early-career researchers. The Tech4Endo project is fostering the co-creation of technological solutions to address patients’ unmet needs and enhance their quality of life. Currently available commercial technologies for endometriosis primarily […]

Virtual reality to understand childhood disease

2 July 2025

New cutting-edge software developed in Melbourne can help uncover how the most common heart tumour in children forms and changes. And the technology has the potential to further our understanding of other childhood diseases, according to a new study. The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and published in Genome Biology, found the software, VR-Omics, can […]

WA FHRI strategy to guide investments in research, innovation

2 July 2025

The State Government has released an ambitious focus for Western Australia’s health and medical research sector with the release of the Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund Strategy 2025-30. The FHRI Fund was first established in 2020, as a unique, long-term investment of $1.8 billion, dedicated to supporting health and medical research and innovation […]

BlinkLab trials moving ahead

30 June 2025

BlinkLab a digital health company developing AI-powered smartphone-based diagnostic technology for autism and ADHD, has achieved a major regulatory milestone. It has received Institutional Review Board (IRB) ethics approval from the WIRB-Copernicus Group (WCG) for commencing the main phase of its United States FDA 510(k) clinical trial. BlinkLab’s strategy is to bring “accessible, scalable autism […]

Harnessing GenAI for good in professional health education

26 June 2025

Students in health-related fields are benefiting from generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), but concerns have arisen about critical thinking ability and reduced peer interaction. A systematic review led by researchers from Monash University’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (FPPS) surveyed the prevalence of GenAI use across six learning types in health profession education and found […]

Next generation digital platform will fast-track research

25 June 2025

An Australian-first data partnership has set a new benchmark for medical research, with the establishment of a next-generation digital platform that aims to fast-track breakthroughs in immune health research. The landmark partnership between the Snow Centre for Immune Health – co led by WEHI and the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) in partnership with Snow Medical Research […]

AI breakthrough for blood vessel calcification screening

23 June 2025

Artificial intelligence may be used to help detect hidden calcium in arteries, saving lives with earlier intervention in heart disease. Early signs of heart diseases are easily missed. However, a person’s heart attack risk can be indicated by the level of calcium built up in the blood vessel walls. A team from Edith Cowan University’s […]

AI tool developed to ensure correct chemo dosing

20 June 2025

University of Melbourne and Western Health researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence tool to prevent cancer patients from receiving incorrect doses of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is typically dosed by calculating the patient’s body surface area using their height and weight, but researchers said this method was “highly inaccurate” as it doesn’t factor in body composition. […]

Multilingual chatbot to support triage

19 June 2025

A multilingual chatbot could lead to better triage assessments at hospitals in multicultural areas and better outcomes for linguistically diverse patients across Australia. In areas like south-western Sydney more than half of the local population – or 55% according to the South Western Sydney Local Health District – speaks a language other than English at home. Dr […]

AI will help deliver equitable maternal care

16 June 2025

The Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) has announced a collaborative research project with ASX-listed HeraMED and RMIT University focused on improving maternal health outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women through AI-enabled predictive care. Under the project, AI models to assess the risk of pre-term delivery linked to socio-economic factors, HeraMED’s proprietary HeraCARE […]

CSIRO has the next step for innovators

16 June 2025

Applications are open for CSIRO’s eight-week Innovate to Grow program, helping Australian small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) transform healthcare innovation ideas into research and development (R&D) projects.  The program is open to SMEs working in the following sub-sectors: Digital health; Biomedical devices; Multi-omics, biostatistics and bioinformatics; Medical imaging and genomics; Drug discovery, vaccines and therapeutics; Advanced cell models; […]

High stakes for data in health apps

13 June 2025

Popular apps used to track menstrual cycles can hold years of data on users’ health and private lives, however users remained largely unconcerned about how that data is used, according to a New Zealand study. New Zealand researchers asked app users about their views of the risks, finding about half considered their data to be […]

Patients support AI in healthcare – but prefer doctors’ decisions

11 June 2025

An international peer-reviewed survey that included Australia has found 57 per cent of people are supportive of the use of AI in healthcare facilities – however those attitudes varied significantly based on social demographics and how familiar people were with the technology. People also preferred explainable AI systems and doctor-led decision-making, which the study’s authors […]

AI-powered head start on skin cancer diagnosis with PanDerm

10 June 2025

Detection of melanoma and other skin diseases will be faster and more accurate with a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tool that analyses multiple imaging types simultaneously. Developed by an international team of researchers led by Monash University and featured in Nature Medicine, PanDerm is one of the first AI models built specifically to assist with […]

Research looks at virtual reality games for physical rehab

6 June 2025

New research from the University of Queensland is using virtual reality games to make physical rehab more enjoyable and effective for patients. UQ School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science PhD scholar Achintha Abayasiri is undertaking the study into how virtual reality (VR) games using headsets could influence the standing balance of both young and […]

Hospital genomics initiative tackles dangerous superbug

5 June 2025

Australian researchers are using real-time genome sequencing in routine hospital care for patients with severe Staphylococcus aureus infections – otherwise known as ‘golden staph’, a superbug responsible for more than one million deaths globally each year. In partnership with seven major Victorian hospitals, researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), […]

Brain-training game could offer pain relief

4 June 2025

An interactive game that trains people to alter their brain waves has shown promise as a treatment for nerve pain. The PainWaive technology, developed by UNSW Sydney researchers, teaches users how to regulate abnormal brain activity linked to chronic nerve pain, offering a potential in-home, non-invasive alternative to opioids. A recent trial of the technology, led […]

New AI pen to detect Parkinson’s

3 June 2025

A pen loaded with magnetic ink can be used to help detect early onset Parkinson’s disease. Neural network assisted data analysis in the device can identify differences in the handwriting of people with and without the disease and could potentially allow for earlier diagnoses. Parkinson’s disease is estimated to affect nearly 10 million people around […]

La Trobe advances medical AI innovation with supercomputer

2 June 2025

The supercomputer behind Australia’s first artificial intelligence-powered medical innovation centre has officially been switched on. La Trobe University’s deployment of NVIDIA DGX H200 systems are the first to be commissioned at a university in Australia, giving scientists the ability to push the boundaries of AI-driven medical and biotech research. The supercomputer’s arrival follows the launch […]

Better detection of dementia using AI

20 May 2025

Researchers from the National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA) have utilised artificial intelligence to develop a new method to improve dementia detection in hospitals. NCHA is a partnership between Monash University and Peninsula Health, and their study involved more than 1,000 individuals aged 60 and above in Frankston-Mornington Peninsula. Currently, dementia is recorded in hospitals […]

Consumer-driven research grant

19 May 2025

Up to $16 million in competitive grand funding has been made available for consumer-driven research aligned to the government’s preventive and public health research initiative. The 2025 Incorporating Patient Data in Health Technology Assessment Decision Making grant opportunity closes on 23 July 2025. The grants provide financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation […]

Biggest study into OCD unlocks new genes

16 May 2025

QIMR Berghofer researchers have found the genes linked to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for the first time, after identifying 30 regions on the human genome associated with this debilitating yet often misunderstood mental health condition. The global research (published in Nature Genetics) involved more than 50,000 people with OCD and 2 million people who did not have […]

Wearable X-rays for children, powered by UQ-developed technology

6 May 2025

Respiratory scans are set to become more comfortable for young children with the development of wearable X-ray devices – including hoodies and blankets – which feature light conversion technology developed by the University of Queensland. Associate Professor Jingwei Hou from UQ’s School of Chemical Engineering has been awarded a $1.6 million Investigator grant from the […]

ANU study to benefit treatment of genetic disease

2 May 2025

Scientists at Australian National University have used powerful AI technology to analyse genetic variations at an unprecedented scale. Researchers say it could lead to prioritising treatments and improving patient outcomes as genetic diseases are better diagnosed and treated. In a step forward for personalised medicine, they uncovered a hidden pattern which  revealed why less critical genes, […]

World-first clinical trial could change how cancer is treated

1 May 2025

In a breakthrough for the future of personalised medicines, a world-first clinical trial launched in Melbourne has the potential to revolutionise the way people with bowel cancer are treated. The trial, based on landmark WEHI research, is the first to look at whether a patient’s response to specific drugs can be accurately predicted, before they […]

New CRC to be the trailblazer for Australia’s ‘care economy’

24 April 2025

Australia will have its first Cooperative Research Centre for the rapidly growing care economy, following today’s announcement of a $35 million CRC federal grant. The Care Economy CRC will be located at La Trobe University and is projected to deliver more than $1.4 billion in direct benefits over the next 15 years. The Chair Elect is […]

Technology use might reduce risk of cognitive decline in later life

24 April 2025

Widespread use of digital technology may be associated with lower rates of cognitive decline and cognitive impairment in adults aged over 50 years, according to a meta-analysis published in Nature Human Behaviour. The findings appear to contradict the “digital dementia” hypothesis that everyday use of technology weakens cognitive ability. The first generation of people who grew […]

CSIRO research shows trust in virtual health services

23 April 2025

Healthdirect Australia’s national coronavirus helpline which received more than five million calls during the pandemic earned the trust of consumers who gave telehealth their tick of approval. Research conducted by CSIRO’s Australian e-Health Research Centre evaluated the effectiveness of the helpline, focusing on participant satisfaction and health system efficiency. The paper An evaluation of healthcare […]

Otago-led genomics research receives $25m Govt funding

23 April 2025

Genomics research aimed at improving health and economic wellbeing in New Zealand has received a new round of Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF) funding totalling $25million. Genomics Aotearoa, a collaborative research platform featuring a consortium of five New Zealand universities and five Crown Research Institutes, is led by the University of Otago and was established […]

Partnership accelerates research

22 April 2025

Researchers will be able to access cutting-edge tools to tackle society’s most pressing challenges across healthcare, manufacturing and sustainability, with a new partnership between the University of Melbourne and Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thermo Fisher). The Applications, Service and Knowledge Centre (A.S.K Centre) and related Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will give researchers access to specialised expertise […]

Unlocking the promise of big data for genomics research

16 April 2025

A team at CSIRO has developed a tool – RAPpoet – to unlock the power of big data stored inside cloud biobanks –making genomic research faster and cheaper. CSIRO Genome Insights team leader Dr Natalie Twine said in its initial use case, RAPpoet reduced costs by 44% and analysis time by 94% compared to standard […]

Flinders’ Venture Dorm helps innovators to fast track

14 April 2025

Flinders University has called for applications before May 11 for a special Medical Device edition of Venture Dorm, a hands-on program designed for innovators with early-stage ideas in MedTech or medical devices. Venture Dorm will run its special Medical Device edition from June 3 to July 22, 2025, with sessions conducted each Tuesday from 5.30pm […]

Ulster University secures €9.1 million EU funding for innovation centre

10 April 2025

Ulster University has been awarded €9.1 million in EU funding to drive forward research and innovation in digital health and medical technologies. The funding will support the development of a Health Frontiers Technology Innovation Centre (HF-TIC), a multidisciplinary initiative focused on advancing medtech and digital health solutions. The initiative will bring together leading research organisations, […]

Feature: Do infectious diseases cause dementia?

4 April 2025

Working out the relationship between infectious diseases and dementia is a bit like the chicken and the egg problem. But artificial intelligence may help researchers decide which comes first. For decades, the medical profession has viewed dementia as a progressive cognitive decline that typically affects older adults. While there have been advances in diagnosing it […]

AI can help with medication safety

4 April 2025

A Macquarie University researcher has received more than $4.4 million for a five-year project to use artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the unnecessary use of medication in residential care. Dr Nasir Wabe from the Australian Institute of Health Innovation has been awarded a Medical Research Future Fund Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant Opportunity, with funding […]

Digital twin research promises faster diagnosis and treatment

3 April 2025

Auckland University researchers and a team at Melbourne’s Alfred hospital are collaborating to use human digital twins for more timely diagnosis of patients. Digital twins are computerised models that replicate a structure or object, and are commonly used in engineering as a type of future-proofing to help predict various scenarios or potential problems. Auckland Bioengineering […]

Trust remains key to digital health uptake, UQ study finds

27 March 2025

A lack of trust in technologies such as telehealth, remote monitoring and mobile health apps remains a barrier to their uptake, research from the University of Queensland has found. In a study published in npj Digital Medicine, UQ Centre for Online Health researchers Dr Soraia de Camargo Catapan and Dr Jaimon Kelly analysed 49 studies, […]

Grant will fund preventive care in primary health

27 March 2025

Researchers with an innovative digital health solution for preventive care in primary health have until April 4 to apply for a $250,000 grant funded by Medibank and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). The grant will fund up to two projects with a total combined value of $250,000 that focus on preventive care […]

AI-powered test to detect silicosis sooner

24 March 2025

A new diagnostic tool developed by physicians and scientists from UNSW Sydney that analyses a person’s breath for signs of silicosis has the potential to detect the disease earlier rather than wait for irreversible lung damage to appear. In a study published in the Journal of Breath Research by Professor William Alexander Donald and Conjoint Professor Deborah Yates, the researchers describe […]

Report challenges assumption health tech saves staff time

20 March 2025

A new report by UK charity the Health Foundation challenges the assumption that the procurement of technology will automatically lead to benefits for health services. The report – Tech to save time: how the NHS can realise the benefits – includes an analysis of 467 studies published between 2010 and 2023 that looked at whether […]

New app supports MS care strategies

20 March 2025

Trinity researchers have developed More Stamina, a gamified mobile health (mHealth) app designed to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) manage fatigue and other MS-related symptoms. Fatigue is the most common symptom of MS, affecting approximately 80 per cent of patients, and can have a devastating impact on quality of life. More Stamina is a […]

Personalised medicine shaped by risk assessment

19 March 2025

Australian genomics technology leader AGRF is offering Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) powered by the Allelica PREDICT module, a cutting-edge platform that translates genomic data into actionable risk assessments. AGRF says healthcare providers will be able to better stratify risk, identifying high-risk individuals earlier, and implement targeted interventions before potential disease onset. “Genomics is revolutionising healthcare, […]

AI detecting endometrial cancer with nearly 100% accuracy

18 March 2025

One of Australia’s most common gynaecological cancers could be detected sooner and more accurately using a specialised Artificial Intelligence (AI) model. Researchers from Charles Darwin University, the University of Calgary, Australian Catholic University and the Daffodil International University in Bangladesh developed an AI model which can detect endometrial cancer with 99.26 per cent accuracy. Endometrial […]

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