DIGITAL HEALTH RESEARCH LAB

Our mission is to harness the power of digital technology to create innovative, accessible, and scalable healthcare solutions that can transform the way people manage their health and well-being.

We envision a future where individuals are empowered to take control of their health goals with the help of technology that enables them to live their best lives. Our approach combines cutting-edge research and development with a deep understanding of human needs and behaviour, and we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the rapidly evolving landscape of digital health.

OUR RESEARCH

In the digital age, nearly all individual and population-level interactions surrounding health - occurring 35,000 times daily per person - are shaped by mediating influences of digital interactions.

At the DHL Lab, our focus is on developing innovative healthcare solutions that cater to the needs of the digital age. Our goal is to provide individuals and populations with timely access to reliable support in different contexts. Simultaneously, we strive to enable traditional healthcare systems achieve better financial, clinical, and operational outcomes by equipping health professionals with smart processes and workflows.

Our research centres around addressing human-centricity, human alignment and ethical concerns related to the use of AI, automation, and other emerging technologies in healthcare. We have extensive expertise in co-design, product development, validation, and facilitation of scale and translation, facilitated by deep collaborations with healthcare providers and technology companies. Our lab has provided extensive support to various health and medical research groups across Australia in product development, validation, and translation processes. The solutions that have resulted from our lab are currently being utilised in different healthcare settings and populations, ensuring their accessibility and relevance.

Research projects

We are spearheading three innovative project streams.

Our first stream aims to create a reliable healthcare front desk at internet entry points. We guide individuals beginning their health journey towards trustworthy resources for mental health, endometriosis, and chronic pain needs. These projects receive support from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and the ARC Industry Transformation Hub on Digital Enhanced Living.
Our second stream tackles information overload and workforce issues in health systems. We design smart and automated workflow solutions, enabling a seamless healthcare experience for patients and providers. Our approach ensures that healthcare providers can provide the best possible care without being bogged down by administrative tasks while improving clinical, financial, and operational outcomes. We work in partnership with the Digital Health CRC and SA Health, leveraging national and state electronic health record resources, and partnering with software businesses.
Our third stream focuses on modifying the digital environment to unlock its health-promoting potential. Our team is developing personal assistant solutions, utilising intelligent check-ins and guidance to help individuals manage their health effectively. We investigate micro daily life decisions and actions to determine how to measure and make tiny changes that have a significant impact when scaled up. Our approach incorporates m-health platforms, apps, and sensor measures, providing personalised information at the right moments and reducing reliance on one-size-fits-all advice and brochures with studies underway in diabetes, liver health, and mental health areas. Our third stream will include upstream determinants of health, such as work and parenting during childhood, which can be disrupted by excessive media use. A Digital Effects Observatory cohort lab study for children and parents will enable us to develop, test, and refine strategies for promoting health and well-being in the digital age while expanding our understanding of the impacts of digital media on individuals and communities.

GROUP MEMBERS

Mr Jarrad Law
Mr Brendan Macey
Mr Max Zhuge
Mr Yang Yang
Mr Wyatt Bai
Mr John Fouyaxis
Ms Anna Logounov
Mr Ajay Radhakrishnan
Mr Michael Bakker

WORK WITH US

Join our lab to engineer smarter healthcare solutions by combining technology with health systems and other sectors of society.

As a passionate student, you'll be part of cutting-edge work that addresses complex healthcare challenges in the digital age. The tailored project will focus on designing and evaluating clinical applications using the latest technologies. We're particularly interested in students with training in Human Factors, Psychology, Design Methods, Computer Science, Public Health, Medicine, or a Health-related field. Let's revolutionise healthcare and improve the lives of people everywhere with digital technology.