The Essex website uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are consenting to their use. Please visit our cookie policy to find out which cookies we use and why. View cookie policy.

University of Essex homepage Research Topics Digital health and health informatics
Research topic

Digital health and health informatics

Woman on laptop sitting in front of huge monitors with cables exposed

Research supporting both assessment of and delivery of services for optimal health is accelerated by leveraging novel technologies. Digital health, including use of wearable devices and real-time ambulatory data capture (e.g., mHealth), offer more granular insights into health and opportunities for intervening to promote health and healthy behaviours. Health informatics, including the development of algorithms for understanding novel biomarkers of health risk and opportunities for clinical and public health intervention and prevention strategies. Bolstered by our interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships, we conduct research using state-of-the-art wearable devices, ambulatory self-report and computing technologies to help manage depression, understand bone health and mobility, reduce stress, improve sleep, and deliver gamified interventions for promoting physical activity. We also work closely with our industry partners to drive innovation at the intersection of technology and health that is scalable to deploy prevention and intervention programmes across organisational systems.

Research projects

Computational methods towards monitoring in-vivo hip joint loads during physical exercises (CHOOSE)

Project aims: To develop a rapid and accurate method to quantify femoral neck loads during ballistic exercise training. With two objectives: the first is to quantify the effects of different ballistic exercises on peak femoral loads; and the second is to quantify the accuracy of using wearable sensors and machine learning in the prediction of femoral loads.

Team members

  • Dr Zainab Altai - Research Follow in the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (SRES), University of Essex
  • Dr Bernard Liew - Senior Lecturer in the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (SRES), University of Essex
  • Dr Jason Moran - Senior Lecturer in the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (SRES), University of Essex
  • Dr Xiaojun Zhai - Reader in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE), University of Essex
  • Dr Andrew Phillips - Reader in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana
Funder
Academy of Medical Science (AMS)

YuLife - Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) - The role of gamification in promoting positive health behaviours and health risk reduction.

Project aims: To evaluate and amplify the benefits to health and risk profile of customers who engage with the YuLife app using the latest modelling techniques and research from the public health and wellbeing domain.

Team members

  • Dr Tasos Papastylianou - Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
  • Dr Honor Bixby - Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
  • Prof. Robert Stawski - Deputy Director of the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
  • Prof. Mariachiara Di Cesare - Director of the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex

Research Associate

Dr Abbas Salami

Dr Abbas Salami

KTP Associate

Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex

Industry Partners and Funders
Industry Partner (YuLife)
Funder (Innovative UK)

NEVERMIND - A smartphone and wearable-based solution for the self-management of depressive symptoms in patients with severe primary somatic conditions.

Project aims: To reduce depressive symptoms among patients diagnosed with severe somatic conditions. The NEVERMIND e-health system consists of a smart shirt and a mobile application with lifestyle behavioural advice, mindfulness-based therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Further information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537022001535

Team members

  • Dr Tasos Papastylianou - Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
  • Prof. Luca Citi - Professor in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE), University of Essex
  • Prof. Riccardo Poli - Professor in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE), University of Essex
  • Eirini Christinaki - Researcher in the Eye Diseases Research Group, Ku Leuven
Funder
Horizon EU
Life at Essex
What it's like to live at Essex
Accommodation
Find your new home
Open Days
Come see for yourself
WE ARE
ESSEX ARE YOU?
Get a prospectus Get to know Essex
STUDY
Find a course
LIFE
RESEARCH
EXPLORE
CONTACT US
Contact


  • +44 (0) 1206 873333
  • University of Essex
  • Wivenhoe Park
  • Colchester CO4 3SQ

 

 

University of Essex - Where change happens

CONNECT WITH US
© 2024 University of Essex. All rights reserved