Department for the Economy (DfE) funded PhD Studentship in Home Health Monitoring for Prevention and Early Intervention in Healthy Aging Communities

Applications are invited for a DfE funded PhD studentship tenable in the Faculty of Computing and Engineering at the Magee Campus. Please note that a faculty reorganisation is underway at Ulster and this studentship will be based within the new structure in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.

Project Summary: In order to support long, healthy and active lives for aging communities, the recent NI Programme for Government consultation and delivery plan identifies three key aims to a redesign of health services to integrate the whole care pathway: prevention and early intervention, improving access to health services and delivering better patient outcomes. Additionally, the ‘Making Lives Better’ strategic framework document highlights the need for investment in technology to help people receive care and gain access to health services while at home, thus supporting people to manage their own care and encouraging presentation with early symptoms.

Aging communities have increased vulnerability towards adverse health outcomes including falls, hospitalization, institutionalization, and mortality. Reduced physical function is common in aging communities, and functional performance tests are useful for the identification of frailty. This proposed project has two main objectives:

Objective 1: New Healthcare Model and Testing of Software with Wearable Devices: Accurate screening of rural communities is a particular problem where there is limited access to healthcare and resources. Sensor based solutions deployed in the community to accurately and objectively classify frailty and inform the appropriate stakeholders would be of major benefit. This proposed project aims to develop and test a new healthcare model alongside a sample software wearable application. The model would be tested using a sample software wearable application such as the data glove system developed in Computing and Engineering for hand function or a back sensor monitoring system for overall patient agility.

Objective 2: Inactivity or mobility monitoring: Diminished immune capacity to protect against chronic disease is a key reason for reduced health in later life. A key aim of this project is to measure biological markers of inflammation and integrate this data with participant based physical measures and clinical data. In the proposed new model healthcare providers and elderly patients could be notified of changes in the immune system by measuring these inflammatory markers in both healthy and chronic disease patients over time.

Background: This project will build on existing work within Computing and Engineering at Magee in smart device sensing for health. In particular, Dr. Condell has
recently analysed real time data capture through the development of novel wearable sensing systems for rehabilitation. Dr Gibson is currently running a study in the Western Health and Social Care Trust to monitor inflammatory markers in arthritis patients while at home.

Entrance Requirements: Candidates should have ordinary UK residence to be eligible for both fees and maintenance. Non UK residents who hold ordinary EU residence may also apply but if successful will receive fees only. All applicants should hold a first or upper second class honours degree in Computing or Engineering or a cognate area. Applications will be considered on a competitive basis with regard to the candidate’s qualifications, skills experience and interests. Successful candidates will enrol as of 1 October 2017, on a full-time programme of research studies leading to the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

The studentship will comprise fees together with an annual stipend of £14,553 and will be awarded for a period of up to three years subject to satisfactory progress.

If you wish to discuss your proposal or receive advice on this project please contact:-
[Email Address Removed] or [Email Address Removed]

Procedure
For more information on applying go to ulster.ac.uk/research
Apply online ulster.ac.uk/applyonline

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is April 28th 2017

Interviews will be held in May 2017