2 days ago
APU, MOH team up for digital health
BRINGING healthcare forward demands innovation, especially in an age marked by technological advancement.
That also involves commercialising research that can benefit the healthcare industry.
Cognisant of the need to drive this area, the Health Ministry (MOH) and the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) plan to co-develop entrepreneurs within the ministry, transforming innovations into commercial products.
The collaboration follows the varsity's recent appointment as one of the ministry's official consultants to the Health Performance Unit (HPU).
Among the initiatives under this collaboration is the Asia Pacific Centre for Robotic Engineering (APCoRE), which is pioneering biomedical robotics such as brain-computer interfaces, virtual reality-based rehabilitation systems, soft robotic mobility aids, and TremorX solutions for Parkinson's patients.
APU chief enterprise & innovation officer Prof Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam – who is leading the varsity's consultancy efforts for the HPU, supported by Forensics and Cyber Security Research Centre (FSeC) head Dr Julia Juremi and Asia Pacific Centre for Analytics (APCA) head Hema Latha Krishna Nair – said under its structured 10-year development framework, APU has strategically aligned its research and talent development with national economic drivers, especially in healthcare.
'We are engaging undergraduate students in real-world, impact-driven innovation,' he said in a press release dated July 3.
In healthcare innovation, Hema Latha and her team at APCA are advancing predictive and prescriptive analytics to support clinical decision-making, including disease forecasting tools and treatment rescheduling systems.
APU's broader research efforts also span epidemiological studies, such as Type 2 diabetes prevalence, dengue outbreak modelling, and insights into nasopharyngeal carcinoma, leveraging global datasets like those from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Further projects include artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning collaborations on ventilator maintenance, as well as extended reality (XR) technologies led by APU XR Studio head Dr Siti Azreena for immersive medical training and mental health awareness.
In addition, APU Centre for IoT and Drones director Narendran Ramasenderan is developing automated hospital transport systems, medical drones and AI disease detection tools.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni – who visited the varsity on June 30 following APU's appointment to the HPU on May 26 – expressed optimism about collaborations with private universities such as APU, particularly in upskilling healthcare professionals and broadening postgraduate education pathways.
'Our future-ready system must be built on strong academic and industry partnerships,' he said.
He added that Malaysia's healthcare landscape is undergoing a transformative shift, steered by digital innovation, strategic planning, and a firm policy direction.
'To enhance system interoperability, the ministry is working towards the rollout of a nationwide electronic medical record system, placing cybersecurity and data privacy at the core,' he said.
He also highlighted the ministry's efforts in exploring legislation to regulate the use of AI in healthcare.
'We are ensuring that while technology supports clinical decisions, it never overrides medical autonomy,' he said, adding that the ministry's Digital Health Division is now tasked not only with software and hardware development but also with shaping policies around telemedicine, medical devices and digital standards.
In his concluding remarks, APU chief executive officer Datuk Parmjit Singh underscored the importance of cultivating future-ready talent and bridging the gap between research and industry application.
'Talent is the cornerstone of economic progress. At APU, we focus on producing graduates who are not only skilled but also globally competitive, particularly in cybersecurity,' he said, adding that a significant portion of the varsity's academic staff are former industry professionals, ensuring the curriculum remains relevant and practical.
He also highlighted APU's strong culture of entrepreneurship through strategic partnerships and an active alumni network, creating a supportive ecosystem for innovation and economic contribution.
Lukanisman's visit included a tour of the varsity's facilities, including the Cybersecurity Talent Zone, FSeC, APCA, XR Studio and APCoRE.
Also present during the visit were HPU director Dr Saravanan S.R. Sundaramurthy and senior ministry officers.
