On January 16, 2020 the Digital Technology Supercluster announced 14 new projects with a total investment of $25 million; including one collaboration between the UBC Department of Medicine and the UBC Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The Supercluster aims to position Canada as a global leader in digital technologies by bringing together small, medium-sized and large companies, post-secondary institutions, research organizations and not-for-profits. The Supercluster co-invests in ambitious technology development projects and new solutions to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of natural resources, healthcare and industrial sectors and energize the economy.
Dr. Teresa Tsang (UBC Department of Medicine), Dr. Purang Abolmaesumi (UBC ECE Professor), and Dr. Robert Rohling (UBC ECE Professor) are partnering with the Intelligent Network for Point-of-Care Ultrasound project. The project is led by the Providence Health Care together with Clarius Mobile Health, Change Healthcare, and Rural Coordination Centre of BC as other partners.
The project will develop a bedside tool for doctors that combines machine learning, handheld ultrasound devices and a cloud-based platform to create an integrated and intelligent point-of-care ultrasound network to deliver faster, more accurate diagnoses to patients whether they reside in urban, rural or remote areas.
The intelligent network being built will provide visual feedback to family doctors and reduce the need for specialized training. The visual feedback will provide augmented assistance to the physician to make a diagnosis decision no matter where they are. The connected system will also load images centrally, making remote second opinions an easy option.
The project will initially target heart and pregnancy applications, and testing will begin where it can have the most impact on the lives of patients–with rural physicians. The Intelligent Network for Point-of-Care Ultrasound will help Canada lead the development of integrated, point-of-care diagnostics while improving healthcare delivery and outcomes for Canadians.
Learn more about this exciting project here
Join us in congratulating Dr. Teresa Tsang and her colleagues on this wonderful achievement!