A multidisciplinary team of researchers has developed a deep-learning framework for improving endoscopy to aid the detection of cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases. Cancers detected at an earlier stage have a much higher chance of being treated successfully. The main method for diagnosing cancers of the gastrointestinal tract is endoscopy, when a long flexible tube … Read more
News for Technology and Digital Health
Eight BRC projects get RCF funding
Eight Oxford BRC proposals, many covering a number of themes, have been awarded NIHR Research Capability Funding (RCF) funding to take forward key areas of research. The selected projects that will be supported include: Developing a research centre devoted to urgent and acute care The creation of a state-of-the-art imaging centre; and of a new … Read more
Common heart medication does not increase risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation
A study by Oxford researchers, supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), found that ACE inhibitors and ARBs – both common treatments for high blood pressure and heart failure – are not generally linked to an increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease or an increased likelihood of being admitted to intensive care. However, … Read more
Oxford leads development of risk prediction model for smarter COVID-19 shielding advice
People at highest risk of serious illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection may soon have access to better shielding advice based on a new data-driven risk prediction model being developed by an Oxford University-led team. The Principal Investigator, Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox of the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, said: ”Driven by real patient data, this risk assessment tool could enable a more sophisticated approach to identifying and managing those most at risk of infection … Read more
BRC Technology Co-theme Lead appointed as NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme Director
Professor Andrew Farmer, the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre’s Co-theme Lead for Technology and Digital Health and an experienced general practitioner, begins a new role with the NIHR on 1 June 2020 as Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme Director. He will take over from Professor Hywel Williams, who will be stepping down in September after heading … Read more
BRC funds new COVID-19 research projects
The NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has allocated funding to three COVID-19 research projects in an attempt to improve treatment, understand how the virus interacts with chronic diseases, and the longer-term effects of infection on organs. The funding, originally earmarked for BRC cross-theme cluster projects, has been diverted to research projects in the BRC’s … Read more
New wearable technology used to monitor COVID-19 patients
Wearable technology that monitors patients’ vital signs is being used with COVID-19 patients on the isolation ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital. The technology has been developed by biomedical engineers and medical researchers supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). The Oxford BRC’s Technology and Digital Health theme, led by Prof Peter Watkinson … Read more
Top accolade for gestational diabetes app
A smartphone application for women with gestational diabetes, developed at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) and the University of Oxford, has won a national award. GDm-Health won the MedTech, Device or Hardware Innovation Award at the HSJ Partnership Awards on Thursday (27th February). The app was developed initially as a ‘proof-of-concept’ collaboration between OUH’s Women’s Centre … Read more
Heart rate rise and blood pressure drops during pregnancy not as dramatic as previously thought
New analysis from over 36,000 healthy women in 20 countries suggests that physiological changes during pregnancy may not be as dramatic as traditionally taught. However, blood pressures do appear to be increasing year on year. Medical text books are based on data that is now over 40 years old. The new research by researchers at … Read more
Smartphone test predicts how symptoms develop in Parkinson’s
Researchers in Oxford have found that a simple test carried out on a smartphone can help to accurately predict future change in people in the early stages of Parkinson’s, helping to determine the support they may need. This study, supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and funded by the Monument Trust Discovery … Read more
Oxford patients take part in study to understand role of stress in managing Crohn’s disease
Around 60 Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust patients are to take part in a study to look at how wearable and mobile devices can help us to understand the relationship between stress and the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, and help to improve management of the condition. The research is part of a larger … Read more
Over half of former ICU patients report symptoms of psychological disorders
Patients in the UK who have survived critical illnesses requiring care in an intensive care unit (ICU) frequently report symptoms of anxiety, PTSD and/or depression. Researchers at the University of Oxford investigated psychological disorders in a cohort of 4,943 former ICU patients. They found that 46% of patients reported symptoms of anxiety, 40% symptoms of … Read more
Gestational diabetes app officially launched
A smartphone application for women with gestational diabetes, developed with support from NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, has been launched commercially. GDm-Health has now completed its development following a two-year clinical evaluation in the NHS by over 1,000 women, and is currently available to pregnant women and their midwives at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS … Read more
Fourth digital health product developed as part of Sensyne agreement
A software product that underpins a remote management service for patients with heart failure has been licensed by the UK digital health company Sensyne Health as part of a strategic research agreement with the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust. Support-HF is the fourth digital health product to be commercialised … Read more
Gestational diabetes app study show positive results
A 21-month study into the safety and effectiveness of a smartphone application for women with gestational diabetes, developed with support from NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, has shown positive results. The randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the GDm-Health app, a digital therapeutic product powered by smart algorithms for the treatment of gestational diabetes, involved 203 … Read more
Oxford mothers-to-be learn about gestational diabetes research
Oxford researchers have attended two events in Oxford to let pregnant women know how to have a healthy pregnancy and to ask them to get involved in giving their views on future research. The researchers from the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust attended two expectant parent events at Mothercare … Read more
Oxford research project wins digital award for Bashing the Bug!
An Oxford-based international online project to tackle antibiotic resistance has picked up a national health research award. BashTheBug, an initiative funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), brings together volunteers from all over the world to take part in the online research study, which has looked at hundreds … Read more
Ground-breaking digital health deal agreed with Drayson Technologies
Drayson Technologies Limited has announced a five-year Strategic Research Agreement (SRA) with the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) in the field of digital health. Millions of NHS patients are set to benefit from the commercialisation of cutting edge technologies invented in Oxford, following the landmark licensing deal between Drayson … Read more
Hospital tablet computers cut nurse time by up to 30 per cent, study finds
A project to replace bedside paper charts with tablet computers in Oxfordshire’s NHS hospitals reduced the typical time taken to input patients’ vital signs by up to 30%, a study has found. The System for Electronic Notification and Documentation (SEND) was developed by the University of Oxford for recording patient vital signs. A study of … Read more
Industry partnership to deploy digital technology in NHS
Drayson Technologies, Oxford University and Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust have signed three agreements to collaborate on the development, testing and future commercialisation of three clinically validated digital health products arising from BRC-funded research undertaken by engineers and doctors at Oxford University and OUH. The products are designed to provide significant improvements in … Read more