CIH PGR Brochure

Centre for Intelligent Healthcare (CIH) Postgraduate Research

Research Coventry

discover more online www.coventry.ac.uk/research

Welcome to the Centre for Intelligent Healthcare Our impact is global. The Centre for Intelligent Healthcare (CIH) delivers high-quality research that inspires future generations of leaders and practitioners to make a valuable impact upon our world.

We work together in a high-performing, outcome-focused culture to make a difference.

Richard Aspinal Associate Dean of Research Acting Director

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About CIH Advances in medicine in the last 20 years have brought treatments for illnesses previously considered incurable and more individuals are living with long-term conditions. When you add to this the increasing number of people with co-morbidities due to demographic change and lifestyle choices, it is clear that the very nature of our healthcare services has to change.

This will require new approaches, new technologies and supporting evidence. We are all responsible for ensuring we stay healthy, active and independent for as long as possible - since all of us wish to age well. The CIH through its dynamic staff, advisory boards, partner organisations and horizon-scanning tools, will be at the forefront of this research providing the evidence for change.

We aim to become a globally recognised research centre for pioneering and opinionsetting research in the area of digital healthcare and contributing to improving communities and enriching and prolonging individual lives.

We have a growing team of researchers with expertise and wide-ranging experiences in technology and healthcare. This multidisciplinary team is further strengthened by our links with companies, hospitals, public health bodies through our Advisory Board, honorary research fellows and associates. We also have a growing team of PhD students who contribute to a vibrant and thriving research environment.

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Research themes The CIH's central theme is to determine how advances in technology and process can contribute to maintaining an individual’s health in the community, and to develop and deliver practical interventions to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease. Our research can be categorised into three themes:

Behavioural and implementation science

Epidemiology and evidenced-based healthcare

Behavioural science/medicine is the interdisciplinary field concerned with the development and integration of behavioural, psychosocial, and biomedical science knowledge and techniques relevant to the understanding of health and illness. It also examines the application of this knowledge and these techniques to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. (Society of Behavioural Medicine).

The World Health Organisation defines epidemiology as: '...the study of the distribution and determinants of healthrelated states or events (including disease), and the application to the control of diseases and other health problems'. Various methods can be used to carry out epidemiological investigations: surveillance and descriptive studies can be used to study distribution; analytical studies are used to study determinants.

Our mission as a theme

Understanding the determinants of health and disease, leads us to evidence-based healthcare where solutions can be found to prevent and treat ill health. This means producing and using the best research available in collaboration with clinical experts and service users.

â–Ş Develop and co-create world-leading, holistic, person-centred and innovative approaches and interventions to address global health needs, based on the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health (Hatala 2013). â–Ş To conduct real-life testing in clinical practice, public health and the community to improve the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of these face-to-face, digital and blended technologies and maximise their use and impact. This is done using the most rigorous and highest standards of excellence in health and social care research.

We encompass a broad range of disciplines and methodological expertise, ranging from qualitative exploration to definitive randomised controlled trials and meta-synthesis.

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Our mission is to identify and address determinants of poor health, working with our collaborators, to meet health needs at a national and international population level. Within the futurethinking CIH research we pay particular attention to novel technologies and digitalised solutions.

Healthcare technology and innovation This theme aims to research and develop innovative healthcare technologies, devices and solutions with scientific and socioeconomic impacts. It also seeks to address unmet healthcare needs and improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities across the globe. Their globally significant and interdisciplinary research engages a range of different partners and stakeholders along the pathway of technology development and commercialisation.

The key research areas of this theme include: ▪ developing innovative healthcare technologies and devices with physiological measurements, advanced bio-signal processing, computer modelling and big data analysis ▪ designing and developing macro- and nano-scale biosensors and devices that utilise biological components to achieve accurate measurement and detection of diseases-related biomarkers ▪ creating innovative and interdisciplinary data science solutions for analysing and interpreting healthcare data using machine learning and artificial intelligence ▪ developing a smart mobile health system and mobile-phone-delivered interventions for chronic disease management, decision support systems, and behavioural change management, as well as the use of latest 5G technology to transform how healthcare is delivered ▪ providing co-creation, prototyping and user-centred product evaluation services to entrepreneurial individuals and companies developing new healthcare technologies.

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Research environment CIH is based on the 4th floor of the Richard Crossman Building and has dedicated facilities and a research support team for postgraduate researchers located in this newly refurbished space. Postgraduate researchers will find themselves working alongside experienced researchers in the collaborative working environment within CIH. We have state-of-the-art clean room facilities for the development and prototyping of cutting-edge wearable sensors and other medical devices. We also have a comprehensive physiological measurement facility equipped with the latest in cardiovascular and microvascular techniques for our wide-ranging research, based at the Health Design and Technology Institute.

These are fantastic resources for innovation in technology, completing the pathway from idea to its initial testing.

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There are university-wide initiatives to promote doctoral research, such as poster competitions and the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. These activities provide great experience and help to develop transferrable skills for a career within or outside of academia. The university’s doctoral college provides research training, mentoring, counselling and career guidance to all doctoral students in a thriving PhD community.

The CIH also hosts regular collaborative research seminars, where our postgraduate research community regularly take part and lead on seminars with academic staff. These sessions also include key speakers from the healthcare sector and industry, with whom the research centre has strong connections.

Postgraduate research: what we offer Postgraduate researchers are part of a vibrant and engaging community at CIH. Its research has led to the creation of three research themes which engage to create a comprehensive research journey, ensuring the latest advancements in healthcare technology has a positive impact on society, and is embedded into healthcare culture.

Each postgraduate researcher is integrated into a theme, making them an important part of the CIH research community. CIH provides numerous opportunities to engage in training and development, develop their networks and present and publish their research alongside their PhD. Please visit our website for more details and to explore our areas of expertise: www.coventry.ac.uk/research/areas-ofresearch/centre-for-intelligent-healthcare/

'My PhD journey has presented me with a set of unique experiences and challenges. With the support of Coventry University, I have worked collaboratively with Interserve Healthcare to create dynamic working relationships. The aim of my research is to co-create meaningful and practical solutions to support evidence-informed healthcare provision. Coventry University offers a vast network of support at every stage of the research process and although a PhD can feel like a lonely venture at times, the strong ethos of team work and unity ensures a collective approach to complete successful research'.

Industry-funded PhD

'The culture at CIH is one of collaboration and sharing. The staff and postgraduate researchers all come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Everyone is encouraged to get to know each other and learn from each other. A success for one of us is seen as a win for the centre overall, and we are encouraged to support and celebrate each other.'

'You never walk alone. My second year PhD went through a massive challenging route but support came instantly and constantly. I have completed my PRP on time and moved on to the third year smoothly.

Thank you CIH, I know I am in good hands.'

Final year PhD student

Final year PhD student

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PGR enquiries E: hls.rso@coventry.ac.uk T: +44 (0)24 7765 9121 Find us 4th Floor, Richard Crossman Building, CV1 5RW www.coventry.ac.uk/cih

J1678-20 Š Coventry University.

Find us on social media: @CovUni_CIH