Innovation through AI and cardiology: Monash-Alfred-Baker meet-up sparks collaborative conversations
The Monash Alfred Baker Centre for Cardiovascular Research recently hosted a cross-disciplinary conversation about AI solutions for heart problems, featuring key figures working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cardiology, bringing expertise and insights from across the disciplines of basic science, IT, engineering, clinical care and industry.
Led by Alfred Health cardiologist and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Monash University Dr Shane Nanayakkara and delivered in collaboration with Monash University’s Faculty of Information Technology, the event participants heard new perspectives on AI and its potential applications to cardiovascular disease prevention and care, as well as the speakers’ personal experiences and future plans.
Speakers included:
- Professor David Kaye, cardiologist and Director of the Monash Alfred Baker Centre for Cardiovascular Research
- Julie Dao, PhD candidate, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Academic Advisor for Monash Young Medtech Innovators and co-lead of the Monash Heart Hackathon team
- Dr Stephanie Chaousis, Chief Customer Officer of Datarwe, with expertise in
medical AI innovation, clinical data access and healthcare ecosystems - Dr Fumihiko Takeuchi, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute Bioinformatics Discovery and Translation program lead
- Dr Andrew Stephens, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, with expertise in
mechanical circulatory support, control of medical devices, medical sensors and artificial intelligence - Associate Professor Zongyuan Ge Faculty of IT, Monash University, with expertise in
medical AI and imaging, computer-aided diagnosis and digital health - Dr Jia (Jackie) Rong, Faculty of IT, Monash University, with expertise in machine learning, deep learning, medical image analysis, cardiac disease detection and digital health
- Professor Chrishan Samuel, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, with expertise in fibrosis, cardiovascular disease, novel therapeutic targets, translation of basic science
- Dr Jocasta Ball, epidemiologist and health services researcher with expertise in atrial fibrillation, acute cardiovascular events, healthcare effectiveness and efficiency and data analysis
Director of the Monash Alfred Baker Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Professor David Kaye, said the centre was focused on creating opportunities for academic-clinician partnered research and new pathways for clinical researchers at the Alfred Research Alliance Precinct. “This event presented a great platform for meeting champions for collaboration and innovative thinking from our Centre’s three partner institutions,” he said.
Julie Dao also facilitated an interactive session that introduced participants to idea generation through co-design. Collaborating in small groups, participants discussed scenarios allowing for input from different disciplines and a collective focus on using AI to solve challenges in cardiovascular disease. Julie Dao said that the event had brought together promising minds with a cross-disciplinary interest in AI and cardiology to work together on significant and emerging cardiac issues.
Dr Shane Nanayakkara, co-lead of Med-Tech and AI at the centre, said the event was a great success. “What a great opportunity to have a conversational event that brings together legends in their fields - machine learning, cardiology, basic science, engineering, and big data - with a razor-sharp focus on how we can work together to improve heart health,“ he said. “It’s fantastic to see three great institutions spanning all of research and clinical medicine working as one.”
About the Centre: The Monash Alfred Baker Centre for Cardiovascular Research supports collaborations that leverage the collective and complementary expertise across Monash University, Alfred Health and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute from the Alfred Research Alliance Precinct. The event was the first of a series of Centre activities that bring together clinicians and researchers from all three organisations to tackle cardiovascular disease to improve the lives of our patients and communities.
For more information, visit the centre website.