The University of Utah’s 2024 Inspiring Digital Health Innovations program has awarded seed grants to four research teams, with the goal of fostering collaborations among digital health researchers and transforming healthcare. These projects focus on using technology in innovative ways to improve health outcomes, particularly in the areas of mental health and rehabilitation. Gamification techniques and apps are common tools used across the funded projects to help establish healthy habits and support healthcare workers.
The development of these interventions requires multidisciplinary collaboration within the University of Utah, drawing expertise from various departments such as the College of Health, the College of Engineering, and the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. Dr. Guilherme Del Fiol, co-director of the Digital Health Initiative, emphasizes the importance of these seed grants in helping teams gather preliminary data for competitive grant proposals. These initial projects serve as a launchpad for larger clinical trials, where researchers can evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions in real-world settings.
One project aims to develop an app that uses gamification techniques to improve mental health outcomes for individuals with depression. The app will provide personalized feedback and support to users based on their progress towards their goals. Another project is focused on using virtual reality technology to enhance physical rehabilitation for patients recovering from injuries or illnesses. The project team plans to conduct a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention in improving patient outcomes.
A third project aims to develop a mobile app that provides real-time monitoring and support for individuals with chronic pain conditions. The app will use machine learning algorithms to analyze user data and provide personalized recommendations for pain management strategies. A fourth project is focused on using wearable devices to monitor vital signs and identify early warning signs of sepsis in hospital patients. The project team plans to conduct a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing mortality rates among sepsis patients.
Overall, these seed grants have provided an opportunity for digital health researchers at the University of Utah to work together towards developing innovative solutions that can improve healthcare outcomes for patients. These initial projects serve as a stepping stone towards larger clinical trials that can help validate these interventions in real-world settings.
