Digital Health and Care at University of Bristol

Digital technologies are increasingly seen as vital to the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and management of illnesses such as diabetes, depression and dementia. Technologies such as smartphone apps, wearable monitors (eg blood pressure, blood glucose) and smart home systems can gather data on a person’s health condition within their community. This data has huge potential to support decision-making by health and care professionals, help a patient manage their own illness, support independent living and deliver behavioural or pharmaceutical treatments.

This CDT will nurture future leaders who will combine technological expertise with understanding of the health landscape; and empathy with the patient’s needs with an eye to new business opportunities.

Working together as a diverse and multidisciplinary group in purpose-built new laboratories adjacent to Bristol Cathedral, students will work closely with the local NHS, experts in social care, charities and with the CDT’s industry partners that range from start-ups to multi-billion dollar corporations that are household names in computing and healthcare.

The first year will provide you with a unique foundation in the rapidly-moving field of digital health. Students from engineering/computer sciences backgrounds will be introduced to relevant aspects of health; while students from a health-related background will be introduced to coding, data analysis and e-health. You will come together to work on real-world digital health problems, leveraging varied expertise from across the cohort.

The three-year PhD research project will then put what you have learnt from your first year into practice, building new expertise and creating new knowledge in digital health and care.