Health + A Changing World

Make an impact

By Karen Keast

From smart robotics to groundbreaking medical tests, health technology is evolving at breakneck speed.

There are more people than ever today, and chronic health conditions, like asthma, type 2 diabetes and heart disease are on the rise. With improvements in health technology and healthcare, the demand for qualified health professionals is strong.

“Advancements in health technology from the inevitable fusion of personalised genetics, nanotechnology and artificial intelligence will have the biggest impact on humanity,” says UTS PhD candidate Samantha Khoury.

“Today’s research student s will create breakthroughs that have an unprecedented effect on health and longevity.”

Samantha and Dr Nham Tran, two researchers at the UTS Centre for Health Technologies, have developed a world-first, simple blood test for detecting the early signs of oral cancer.

Students like Samantha are getting their hands on health technology previously reserved only for clinicians.

New study options with cutting-edge health technology

In 2017, a new entry-level physiotherapy Master’s degree at UTS will expose students to patient rehabilitation via tele-therapy – online therapy using videoconferencing to connect with and treat growing numbers of patients in rural and remote areas.

Students will have the opportunity to use four Tyromotion robotic-aided virtual rehabilitation devices designed to increase participation rates for patients in rehabilitation while helping stroke patients improve movement.

“It will be good for students to graduate and already understand how to apply the technology and know where it works best,” says UTS physiotherapy professor Lynley Bradnam.

At Griffith University, researchers are using 3D bioprinting to replace missing teeth and bone – an innovation that could revolutionise dental treatment, particularly for ageing patients.

Periodontist Professor Saso Ivanovski, from Griffith’s Menzies Health Institute, says the bioprinter fabricates gum structures, which can be implanted into the patient’s jawbone.

“The future of health is an exciting area to work in,” he says. “You are looking at real outcomes – you’re able to really change people’s lives by giving them back function where they have lost it.”