Bioinformatics and Health Informatics
Bioinformatics and Health Informatics
Sub topics:
- Bioinformatics
- Health and Wellbeing
Digital Health & Life Sciences research in the school encompasses approaches to understand biological data (bioinformatics), to aid clinical decision making (healthcare informatics), and to improve overall wellbeing (digital health & wellbeing). Bioinformatics involves the use of computers to analyse biological data, such as genome sequences, both for understanding disease (e.g. analysing cancer genomes) and for more fundamental research (e.g. understanding evolution). Healthcare Informatics involves the use of computers to store and analyse patient healthcare data, such as electronic health records, in order to improve outcomes for patients. One example is clinical decision support systems, where computers are used to analyse patient data and make recommendations to doctors relating to diagnoses or treatments.
Digital Health and Wellbeing is the use of digital technologies to improve health outcomes. This might be through the use of data to help healthcare practitioners design solutions for patients, or to synchronise care from a number of sources and to keep all practitioners informed of a patient’s medical situation. It also includes technological approaches to aid people manage their own health and wellbeing. Digital solutions can also be used formally or informally to help a patient to manage their own health or wellbeing by encouraging healthy behaviours. Digital solutions might benefit physical or mental health.
Associated Staff
(opens in a new window)Dr Simon Caton
(opens in a new window)Assoc Professor David Coyle
(opens in a new window)Dr Andrew Hines
(opens in a new window)Dr Catherine Mooney
(opens in a new window)Dr Mark Matthews
(opens in a new window)Professor Mohand Kechadi
(opens in a new window)Assoc Professor Fintan Costello