• A leading Charles Sturt University artificial intelligence (AI) academic has received a national grant to advance AI and industry project collaboration
• The project focuses on generic medical and assistive device prescriptions for patients with diabetic-related foot disease
• It aims to develop an innovative tool for the pedorthic industry to assist clinicians in prescribing personalised medical devices to improve patient outcomes

A Charles Sturt University computer science academic has been awarded the University’s first federal government grant to promote industry-related artificial intelligence (AI) PhD research.

Associate Professor Ashad Kabir (pictured, inset) in the Charles Sturt School of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering has successfully secured a National Industry PhD Research Grant.

Professor Kabir is the Deputy Leader in the Data Mining Research Group and an expert in AI, Data Science and Applied Computing. He received the grant for his project ‘Artificial intelligence-guided personalised medical and assistive device prescription for improving clinical outcomes and adherence’.

He is the chief investigator and principal supervisor for the project’s PhD student Mr Kunal Kumar.

Professor Kabir said the project focuses on the issue of generic medical and assistive device prescriptions for patients with diabetic-related foot disease.

His research group is working collaboratively with the company Foot Balance Technology Pty Ltd on an industry-focused PhD project aimed at addressing key challenges in the Decision Support Systems sector.

“It does this by utilising and advancing artificial intelligence to guide personalised device prescriptions, allowing for individual patient preferences and lifestyles,” Professor Kabir said.

“The project seeks to develop an innovative tool for the pedorthic industry, assisting clinicians in prescribing personalised medical devices.”

Professor Kabir said this collaborative effort brings together academic expertise and industry insights to drive innovation and deliver real-world impact, and epitomises a collaborative approach that bridges the gap between academia and industry.

He said the project leverages the University’s renowned expertise in AI and data science and Foot Balance Technology’s industry leadership in pedorthics and personalised medical devices.

“We are excited to embark on this collaborative venture with Foot Balance Technology, as it exemplifies Charles Sturt University’s commitment to impactful research and innovation that makes a difference in people’s lives,” Professor Kabir said.

“This project not only demonstrates our expertise in AI and data science but also underscores our dedication to addressing real-world challenges in the healthcare sector to drive meaningful advancements in personalised medical device prescriptions and ultimately improve clinical outcomes for patients with diabetic-related foot disease.”

CEO and Principal Pedorthist at Foot Balance Technology Dr Sayed Ahmed said partnering with the Charles Sturt research team on the AI-guided personalised medical and assistive device prescription project has been a game-changer for the company.

“By leveraging AI technology, we’re not just shaping the future of healthcare; we’re fundamentally improving patient outcomes and adherence,” he said.

“This collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation and patient-centric care, and we’re excited to see the profound impact this project will have on advancing personalised medicine and transforming the healthcare landscape.”