The Centre for Health Technologies (CHT) brings together experts from across the breadth of UTS’s engineering, information technology, health and science disciplines.
Research Focus
Translational projects that have impact
Work with CHT
Our team’s interdisciplinary research skills are unique in Australia. We strive to develop and commercialise innovative medical devices and biotechnology processes that directly contribute to human health. Our primary focus is grounded in Medical Devices, Translational Biotherapeutics and Transcriptome Research.
Our projects are focused on the early detection, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders and cancer. Our work is shaping international approaches to biomedical instrumentation and science.
Our research has also achieved significant market success. We have contributed to several spin-out companies, 12 full patents and a series of projects at various stages of commercialisation. We have also received extensive funding from government, academia and industry organisations, including the ARC, NHMRC and JDRF.
Gamifying dementia diagnosis
Dementia is the leading cause of death for Australian women and the second leading for all Australians. The World Health Organization listed technological innovation in diagnosis as a top priority for dementia research. Associate Professor Valerie Gay, a CHT member, is helping to address this social need alongside Dr Jaime Garcia and pioneering PhD student Fernanda Tavares Vasconcelos Oliveria. They are developing a gamified screening instrument to make it easier to identify dementia diseases in patients. The proposed game, CogWorldTravel, follows the main character, Linda, a recent retiree who wishes to travel the world. The game includes eight innovative game mechanics to measure cognitive performance, founded on valid and well-researched neuropsychological tests. The 2021 UTS Social Impact Grant awarded the team $10 000 dollars, recognising the potential to deliver a real impact for people living with dementia.