Life Sciences Queensland Limited and Springfield City Group in collaboration to partner the third Future of Health Series event

Innovation, data, and precision medicine form key discussion topics as panel experts explore how to drive research and improve health outcomes. Speakers in health economics and data, genomics and population health, and technology-based health interventions lent their expertise and experience to drive a forward-thinking discussion about health and the role of research in improving health outcomes.

This is the third event in the Future of Health Series organised by Life Sciences Queensland and Springfield City Group.

“LSQ is the amplifier of the life sciences ecosystem in Queensland,” stated Clare Blain, CEO of Life Sciences Queensland. The partnership and synergy between LSQ and Springfield City Group remains strong as they both continue to promote research that drives better health outcomes through innovative uses of data, and research into prevention and precision medicine.

"The more we invest in prevention, the less we will spend on chronic disease and tertiary care later on."

Associate Professor Lauren Ball and her research team at Griffith University strive to reorient health care by focussing on prevention, health, and well-being. “Research is how we push boundaries and challenge assumptions about what is possible here and now,” stated Lauren.

‍Nourish Inala is an example of co-creation research undertaken by Lauren and her team. Community members in Inala play an active role in identifying barriers to nutrition in their own community and then participate in actions to improve access to fresh fruit and vegetables. The team will continue to monitor the program, which is currently in progress, to determine community uptake, fresh produce supply and ultimately, vegetable intake as an indication of health behaviour.

Mark Wallace, Managing Director of Econisis, understands the benefits of community and research. Mark evaluates health economic data and identify what challenges the health system faces in the future with long-term and chronic health conditions.

“Health economics is data rich,” stated Mark. “It can be analysed in a manner that creates compelling narratives that resonate with health professionals and policy makers to improve health outcomes.” Mark explained that through data, the diversity within the Australian population is clear and health care must reflect that diversity. “Patient complexity is so great that homogenous health care doesn’t work. Person-centric care that maximises their quality of treatment and is something we must do in a sustainable way.

"The challenge of implementing data driven healthcare was discussed in detail by Dr Navid Toosi Saidy who is the digital health lead at AI consultancy MaxKelsen. “Combining the data that exists within an organisation with advanced analytics and machine learning can have a huge impact on patient outcomes and operational efficiency,” Navid explained.

Though data can be derived from a range of patient sources like genomic data, clinical charts, imaging, and even wearable devices like smart watches, there is variability in how algorithms are built, and data is interpreted. Navid is building a platform where data can reside, and security and compliance are maintained. Using collected data and artificial intelligence, tools that can affect the patients care pathway from prevention through treatment and monitoring can then be developed.

“Our goal is getting the researchers to data, not bringing data to researchers.”

As health care and precision medicine continue to evolve, Dr Lynn Fink, technical director with XING Technologies explained how biomarker screening can be used in treatments for people with cancer. Lynn explained XING was founded on the notion that instead of treating cancer patients with non-precision treatments that are less effective, they want to identify the appropriate biomarker, and target individual therapy that will cure them faster and efficiently. “By applying innovative research, and specific biomarker screening, there is the potential to improve and save the lives of millions of people before they have even been diagnosed with cancer” stated Lynn.

Professor Sonja March, Director, Centre for Health Research at UniSQ summarised how innovation, data, AI, precision medicine and community can come together when she spoke about how blended technology interventions have the power to deliver solutions to children and adolescents with mental illness. Sonja and her team have developed various forms digital interventions and bench to community support. “What we have are digital tools that can be implemented across a spectrum, in many ways,” highlighted Sonja. “It is hoped that these solutions can integrated into a variety of settings including schools and health services.”

“Today has provided an opportunity think differently about how we manage health,” stated Christine Williams, Chair of Life Sciences Queensland.

Associate Professor Lauren Ball agrees, “The more we invest in prevention, the less we will spend on chronic disease and tertiary care later on.”

Future of Health Series August 2022 event photos available here.

‍For further media information contact:

‍Clare Blain info@lsq.com.au 07 3331 3955

Nadine Pobarn.pobar@springfieldcity.com 0419 759 503

About:

‍Life Sciences Queensland is focussed on facilitating the future growth and sustainability of Australia’s life sciences industry. The organisation highlights the key role that life sciences innovation plays to feed, fuel and heal our citizens.

‍Springfield City Group:  Greater Springfield, located right on Brisbane’s doorstep, is Australia’s fastest emerging new city. It drives one of the nation’s fastest growing urban growth corridors, and other than Canberra, it is the only fully master planned city to be built in Australia.The interconnected pillars of health, education and information technology continue to be at the core of this plan, with precincts and economic drivers established to eventually cater for all forms of health, wellness and education to meet the city’s job target of 52,0000 by 2030.Springfield City Group (formerly Springfield Land Corporation) is the master developer of Greater Springfield and has been instrumental to the emerging city's continuing success.

L-R: Mark Wallace – Econisis, Clare Blain - Life Sciences Queensland Ltd, Dr Navid Toosi Saidy - Max Kelsen, Prof Sonja March – UniSQ, Dr Lynn Fink - XING Technologies, Prof Rob Stable AM - Springfield City Group and Associate Prof Lauren Ball - Griffith University[/caption]