Distributed Health Technologies

Health is a fundamental and universal concern, in all cultures and for all people. Every day, millions of individuals face disease or illness and interact with their health care support systems. Each individual presents a unique and dynamic health care challenge.

Academic scientists and engineers rarely view large-scale distribution of their creative work as their primary goal. The technological constraints imposed by distribution into diverse environments are considered only after the initial academic work has occurred. Consequently, the problems associated with large-scale distribution to the global human population are often postponed into an indeterminate future – or are simply ignored.

Technological solutions to large-scale, inexpensive manufacturing and quality control are available, but remain outside of the typical academic environment.

Description
The Distributed Health Technologies project will link three research areas for developing health care technologies with wide distribution:

• Cutting-edge advanced engineering
• clinical medicine delivery
• large-scale automated manufacturing

DHT’s integrated, collaborative research environment will bring together these three knowledge resources - while encouraging imaginative and risk-taking thinking - to provide solutions to common health care challenges.

The DHT Project will design, develop and test technologies that are, at their foundation, compatible with large-scale, low-cost distribution to the general community.

Team Members
The research and development of the DHT Project is a two-way interaction between the University and the community. The University, within its diverse Colleges and Schools, holds the intellectual expertise in the clinical delivery, biomedicine, engineering, communication, nursing and public health research required for success.

The larger Michigan community provides additional expertise in high-volume manufacturing, product quality control, information technology, and distribution.

The DHT is expected to grow to 8-12 research groups over the coming 4 years.

Translational Research
The research and development of the DHT Project has strong overlap with recent emphases on translational research. The application of all DHT developed technology will be targeted to rapid deployment into use among large patient populations.

Co-location
The research groups involved in the DHT program will benefit from location that is vibrant and intellectually engaged. The use of live personal communication will be emphasized, but it is also recognized that electronically assisted communication is powerful and useful.

More Information
For more information, or to see how you can be involved, contact Dan Duckworth at duckdan@umich.edu or 734-615-1703.