The University of Leicester in the UK has partnered with Apollo Hospitals and The Apollo University in Andhra Pradesh, India, to launch a global digital health and medicine research centre.
With its India hub inaugurated at the Apollo University, the Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine (CDHPM) aims to transform patient care.
The centre's headquarters will be based in Chittoor while the hub at the University of Leicester will operate from the BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre at Glenfield Hospital.
This collaboration will leverage the research capabilities and resources of both institutions to advance healthcare across various domains, particularly focusing on acute and emergency medicine, cardiovascular diseases and multi-morbidity.
Professor Nilesh Samani from the University of Leicester's cardiology department and Apollo Hospitals' chief medical information officer Dr Sujoy Kar will serve as co-directors of the centre.
The centre's research is expected to lead to improved disease prediction and prevention, as well as enhanced detection, diagnosis and management of various acute and chronic conditions in both hospital and community environments.
Additionally, the partnership will introduce new educational programmes this year, including those aimed at addressing the specialist nurses shortage in India and advancing the careers of junior doctors.
Students from these programmes will have opportunities to work within the National Health Service (NHS), helping to alleviate the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals.
University of Leicester president and vice-chancellor Nishan Canagarajah said: “The establishment of the centre will allow Leicester and Apollo to build the healthcare of the future with the potential to transform lives, not only in India and the UK but around the globe.”
Furthermore, two Masters programmes focusing on clinical education and healthcare management are to be launched this year, targeting junior doctors from India.
Two additional full-time healthcare Masters programmes in computational health data science and mental health nursing will also be introduced.
