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Dr. Cailbhe Doherty, an Ad Astra Fellow and Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Sport Science, has dedicated his career to pioneering advancements in rehabilitation, digital health, and data analytics. Growing up in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, with a strong interest in sports, he pursued physiotherapy at University College Dublin (2011-2016) from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels. His doctoral research focused on ankle sprain recovery, pioneering the first prospective analysis of individuals post-injury, which identified key predictors of long-term recovery outcomes. This work highlighted the predictive value of movement patterns and balance skills in determining the likelihood of chronic ankle instability, setting the stage for his future exploration into the interplay between rehabilitation and digital health.
Current Research Challenges
Currently, Dr. Doherty's primary focus is on wearable technology, aiming to create a "(opens in a new window)wearable watchdog" platform that provides evidence-based insights into device accuracy and functionality. Funded under Science Foundation Ireland’s National Challenge Fund scheme, this project seeks to revolutionise public health research by investigating the accuracy of wearables and establishing a data donation platform for wearable device data named Cerberus. Cerberus aims to validate device measurements, synthesise existing research, and collect health data through public participation and national surveys in collaboration with Sport Ireland. The ultimate goal is to enhance public health surveillance and provide personalised health insights while maintaining high ethical standards and data privacy.
Despite having a highly skilled team, Dr. Doherty identifies one major obstacle to ensuring the long-term viability of Cerberus: long-term funding. Research projects and the funding programs that support them are by their nature time-bound, and Cerberus will need to survive beyond its current funding period to realise its full potential. The project requires more users and financial support to continue, making sustained funding essential. This is also true of the other research projects that Dr. Doherty is currently involved with, all of which seek to leverage data science, evidence based medicine and wearables to improve public health and healthcare.
The Researcher
Dr. Doherty’s research focus sits at the intersection of rehabilitation and digital health, with a keen interest in consumer wearable technologies. His work has significantly advanced methods for the precise collection and analysis of biometric data, enhancing our understanding of human health and athletic performance. His early career included a notable collaboration with Fujitsu at the UCD Insight Centre for Data Analytics, where he led an 18-month feasibility study using inertial measurement units to monitor concussion recovery. This project resulted in a patented and commercialised system for real-world, continuous assessment of concussion recovery.Furthering his engagement with industry, Dr. Doherty collaborated with a team of data analysts in the Insight Centre for Data Analytics, working with Strava to create 'Pace-Man', a platform that utilised data from over two million users to develop personalised pacing strategies for marathon runners. This project employed machine learning and AI to provide real-time training adjustments based on various factors such as weather, terrain, and individual training data. In 2018, he was a co-applicant on an Enterprise Ireland commercialisation grant to develop a user facing app for the 'Pace-Man' platform, which was designed to aid marathon runners in preparation and pacing. The team’s innovative approach earned them a finalist position in the NOVAUCD Venture Launch competition.
Dr. Doherty has consistently demonstrated a commitment to translating research into practical applications that benefit society. He led the development of 'SciScanner', a point-of-care decision support tool for healthcare professionals, designed to deliver instant, evidence-based information using machine learning and text-mining. Despite the project's early termination due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it showcased his dedication to bridging the gap between research and clinical practice.
Recognising the power of digital platforms for public education, Cailbhe launched a YouTube channel featuring over 150 video lectures on health, exercise science, and technology. This channel has garnered substantial engagement, reflecting his commitment to democratising education and empowering individuals through accessible knowledge. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he focused on improving online teaching through video design, incorporating principles such as human-like gestures and text highlighting to increase student engagement and learning. His empirical research on these multimedia techniques led to published findings. Additionally, he developed a comprehensive learning module called "(opens in a new window)Born to Run: The Science of Human Endurance," which integrates data analytics, evolutionary biology, and physiotherapy, attracting over 550 students and industry participants. This module's success reflects his commitment to merging scientific research with practical applications in education and industry.
In his spare time Cailbhe enjoys tabletop games, running, video games and reading. He has a passion for learning new skills.
Future Research Aspirations
Dr. Doherty aims to revolutionise both education and public health by leveraging innovative multimedia design and wearable technology. Through his dedication to empirical research, ethical principles, and collaboration, he seeks to make a significant impact on society by enhancing learning experiences and improving health outcomes.
His next goal is to develop a user-facing interface for the Cerberus platform to empower wearable device users with personal health insights. This system will leverage machine learning and AI to, for example, suggest exercises or nutrition plans to users. There are plans to collaborate with external groups on population health studies, such as type 2 diabetes, under the "One Health" initiative.
Over the next decade, Dr. Doherty envisions integrating this platform with Ireland's public health research programs, generating insights into national health and sports participation. Despite the rapid pace of technological change, Dr. Doherty is committed to maintaining an open, transparent, and collaborative approach to make a significant societal impact.
The demand for his research has sparked numerous collaboration requests and grant applications. There is palpable excitement and interest in his work, with immense potential for how the data-rich platform Cerberus could be leveraged for insights and learning over time. As he endeavours to create substantial value for future public health systems and needs, the future begins now
Related Links
(opens in a new window)UCD webpage
(opens in a new window)YouTube
(opens in a new window)Publications
(opens in a new window)Twitter