Personalised medicine and the digital transition in healthcare

This Simula-hosted seminar will explore the transformative effect of the digital transition and the impact of digital tools on healthcare, with a particular focus on personalised care advancements and the strategies required to address the associated challenges. 

The advent of personalised medicine is driving us towards more precise, predictable and powerful healthcare that is tailored to the individual patient. Growing understanding of genetics and genomics is essential for this development, as well as the ability to describe cell and organ physiology at a personalised level, in order to predict disease trajectories and therapy response. 

The potential benefits are more precise diagnostics as well as safer and more effective therapies for large groups of patients. However, the associated challenges are substantial, and progress in this field relies on effectively combining digital technologies with state-of-the-art medical knowledge and established clinical practice. Norwegian research and innovation are contributing to this healthcare transformation with a special focus on collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts. 

During the half-day seminar, six expert speakers will discuss strategies to navigate the challenges and opportunities of personalised medicine, emphasising the collaborative efforts in Norway to make healthcare more effective, efficient, and patient-focused. Join us!

REGISTER HERE BY APRIL 4
https://forms.gle/ppaWdQZh7dm9L9hH7

Date: April 11th
Time: 09:00-11:30, followed by a light lunch and mingling
Venue: Simula Research Laboratory, Kristian Augusts gate 23

What you can expect:

• 6 talks by leading researchers, each exploring the digital tools that are revolutionising healthcare
• Panel discussion: “Computer models for personalised medicine. What are the clinical needs? What improvements are needed in the models?”
• Chances to network during the breaks & lunch (with refreshments)

Scientific abstract for this seminar:
Personalised medicine and the digital transition in healthcare

Healthcare is experiencing a remarkable transformation, largely fueled by the growing availability and application of digital technologies. These innovations are making healthcare delivery more efficient and accessible, and also form the basis for personalised healthcare, where diagnostics and therapy is tailored to the characteristics of the individual patient. 

Yet, this progress comes with significant challenges. Advancing personalised healthcare to its full potential requires seamless and efficient utilisation of patient data, development of effective and reliable algorithms to utilise these data, and deep understanding of how individual differences affect disease progression and treatment response. Relevant patient data come from diverse sources, including for instance genetics and medical images, and successful personalised care requires seamless integration of these data sources. 

In this seminar, we will explore how digital tools are revolutionising healthcare and drive the advancement of personalised care. While personalised health care is often centred around genetics, we will mainly highlight advances driven by improvements of medical imaging in combination with digital tools and models. 

Speakers: 

• Ragnhild Holst  
  Seniorrådgiver, Helsedirektoratet
  "Personalized Medicine as an Integrated part of Healthcare Services"
• Kristina Haugaa 
  Professor in Cardiology at University of Oslo, Consultant cardiologist, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet
  "ProCardio Precision Medicine"
• Hermenegild Arevalo
  Chief Research Scientist, Head of ComPhy Department, Simula
  "Understanding and Treating Cardiac Disease Using Personalized Heart Models"
• Pål Halvorsen 
  Professor, Head of HOST Department, SimulaMet
  "Digitizing Endoscopies: From Vague Ideas to Commercial Solutions"
• Hans Henrik Odland 
  Pacertool Founder, Pediatric Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Oslo University Hospital
  "Precision medicine, biomarker and medical device regulations"
• Cécile Daversin-Catty
  Research Scientist in the SCAN Department, Simula
  "Bringing mathematics into the clinic - A success story"

About the Simula Seminars 

Through this seminar series, Simula explores big picture questions at the intersection of technology and society. Questions such as how can the digital transformation in healthcare advance personalised medicine and can it lead to safer, more effective healthcare?

By bringing together interdisciplinary contributors from academia, industry and the public sector, Simula aims to drive progress in a way that is beneficial for everyone.