Through this three-year research initiative, ICAREWOUNDS will facilitate the work of European healthcare professionals in treating chronic wounds.
ICAREWOUNDS will analyse the care model for these patients in European hospitals and develop an AI-based model to support healthcare professionals in their work.
Driven by a consortium led by Gradiant and composed of six other entities, it is funded with €1.5 million and co-financed by the European Commission with the support of national agencies such as the Carlos III Health Institute.
On 8th May 2024 UCD and the National Rehabilitation University Hospital (NRH), along with a consortium of six other entities, launched ICAREWOUNDS, a European alliance to promote a comprehensive model of care for patients with chronic wounds. The aim of this AI-driven research, led by the technological centre and commencing its activities this May with a duration of three years, is to facilitate the work of healthcare professionals.
ICAREWOUNDS will optimise processes, make it easier for healthcare staff to decide on the best treatment for each situation, reduce healing times and reduce the cost of dressings and other healthcare resources. It will also facilitate the personalisation of care, provide doctors with tools to optimise care, enable communication and collaboration between care levels and seamless care delivery, and prevent the occurrence of adverse events.
Luis Pérez Freire, Gradiant’s Executive Director, points out that, "With the activation of this project we want to respond to the need to homogenise and generalise treatments in accordance with international clinical guidelines and to set ourselves the challenge of developing tools that are feasible for implementation in real healthcare systems, allowing us to maximise usability by healthcare professionals. To do this, we will start with an initial analysis of the processes currently followed in different European hospitals in the treatment of chronic wounds and we will integrate AI technologies to analyse them.’’
Prof Áine Carroll from UCD and NRH said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to be part of this AI project aimed at enhancing chronic wound care management! It's an incredibly exciting opportunity to harness the power of artificial intelligence for such a vital cause. With the potential to revolutionise how we approach chronic wound care, we're not just working on a research project; we're contributing to something that could significantly improve the quality of life for our patients and their families. The chance to innovate in this field, leveraging technology to provide more personalised, efficient, and effective care, fills us with anticipation and enthusiasm.’’
With funding of 1.5 million euros and co-financed by the European Commission with the support of national agencies such as the Carlos III Health Institute and the HRB, ICAREWOUNDS will be developed in collaboration with entities such as the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Galicia Sur (Spain), CyberEthics Lab (Italy), Medical University of Lodz (Poland), University College Dublin (Ireland), Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT (Finland), and Sigoria Security Solutions Ltd (Poland).
About UCD
UCD is one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities; an environment where undergraduate education, masters and PhD training, research, innovation and community engagement form a dynamic spectrum of activity.
The international standing of UCD has grown in recent years; it is currently ranked within the top 1% of higher education institutions world-wide. UCD is also Ireland's most globally engaged university with over 38,000 students drawn from 152 countries, including over 5,000 students based at locations outside of Ireland. The University's main Dublin campus occupies an extensive parkland estate of 133 hectares and offers world-leading facilities.
In 2022/23 UCD researchers secured €161 million in research grants from national and international funding agencies, companies and foundations. Since 2012/13 UCD researchers have secured over €1.3 billion in such grants.
About the NRH
The National Rehabilitation University Hospital (NRH) offers specialised rehabilitation services for patients across Ireland dealing with physical or cognitive disabilities due to accidents, illnesses, or injuries. Catering to both adults and children, NRH conducts around 500 inpatient programs and 18,000 outpatient sessions annually. With over 60 years of experience, NRH ensures personalized treatment plans through consultant-led interdisciplinary teams in various specialties such as spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, stroke, prosthetics, orthotics, limb absence, and paediatric rehabilitation. As a teaching hospital, NRH prioritises education, training, and research, striving to advance care and treatment in complex rehabilitation programs for the benefit of patients, families, and caregivers.