Design and Development of Novel Apps for Enhancing Patient Self-Management of Respiratory Disease

A recent world health organisation (WHO) report revealed that diseases attributed to air pollution caused about 600k premature death in the European Region and an economic cost of US$1.6 trillion in 2010. Inhalable particles, volatile organic compounds and ozone have all been associated with a worsening of symptoms for patients suffering with respiratory diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma globally.

Through modelling causal relationships between air pollution and respiratory diseases with consideration of environmental challenges, this project aims to develop an innovative, portable, and affordable app to enhance the individuals’ ability to manage their own respiratory disease through using big data from portable health monitoring devices and air pollution monitors. This app consists of education and self-management, data collection and big data based analysis. This project will explore the relationship of health characteristics, air pollution, symptoms of the respiratory diseases to improve the capability of the app and bring real benefit to the target users. The big data analytics on the combined local and environmental monitoring results lead to an affordable app first time for such diseases, achieving a major step towards industrialising healthcare at significant scale and a cost reduction by over 80%.

This project is part of the current Innovative UK and Guangdong (China) joint bid by four international partners, where My mHealth is the UK lead partner and BU is a UK academic partner. This PhD studentship will benefit from and provide the support the Innovatie UK bid and will also enhance the collaboration with My mHealth and two Chinese partners.

The deliverables of the project are

1) novel apps for enhancing patient self-management of long term conditions including COPD (chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease) and Asthma; and

2) predictive analytics engine using Big Data techniques.

In addition, three conference and two Refable journal papers will be produced during the life time of this project. An ideal candidate should have a computing, or mathematics background due to the requirement on handling a task which required multidiscipline knowledge.


Candidates for funded PhD studentship must demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in 4 years.
The PhD Studentships are open to UK, EU and international students. Candidates for a PhD Studentship should demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in 4 years and must demonstrate:

• A 1st class honours degree and/or a relevant Master’s degree with distinction or equivalent.If English is not your first language you’ll need IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 minimum (with a minimum 6.0 in each component).

In addition to satisfying minimum entry criteria, BU will look closely at the qualities, skills and background of each candidate and what they can bring to their chosen research project in order to ensure successful completion.

How to apply: Applications are made via our website using the Apply Online button below. If you have an enquiry about this project please contact us via the Email NOW button below, however your application will only be processed once you have submitted an application form as opposed to emailing your CV to us.