BRAIN HEALTH THROUGH DIGITALISATION

The global increase in the emergence of brain diseases has been growing for a long time, and the growth continues due to the aging population. Not only has the pandemic exacerbated the situation for those with existing mental disorders, but due to its widespread effects, it’s highly likely that the pandemic is followed by an increase in the emergence of mental health conditions.

For Uusimaa to begin to recover from the impact of the pandemic quickly and efficiently, it is important to invest in new kinds of development and innovation activities to advance brain health. This would have a great impact on both the economic and social recovery from the pandemic.

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS AND INNOVATIONS
TO ADVANCE BRAIN HEALTH

The overarching theme of this project is digital solutions and innovations to advance brain health. The project is carried out by members of the Helsinki Brain & Mind network: the University of Helsinki, Aalto University and HUS, forming the biggest neuroscience research and competence cluster in Finland in the capital region.

PROJECT GOALS

The project goals are diverse and the most important goals are

i) creating a plan for utilising digital imaging and patient data in research and development;
ii) developing applications based on artificial intelligence for analysing brain imaging data;
iii) advancing the development of a secure and ethical data analysis environment;
iv) developing new digital solutions for the prevention and treatment of brain and mental health disorders with companies by utilising a co-development model;
v) creating an industrial collaboration cluster around the solutions and opportunities developed in the project;
vi) carrying out an investigation on the possibility of expanding the existing digital data pools by building data banks for brain imaging, stem cells and sleep data.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH

Together, the actions carried out in this project will strengthen the activities of the neuroscience research, competence and innovation ecosystem in the capital region, and create a unique opportunity for combining and utilising digital patient records and other health data in a secure and sustainable manner. This will open up new opportunities for research, healthcare and for the development of new kinds of businesses, as well as make Uusimaa region a competitive and attractive site in the development of new digital solutions for brain health.

The Helsinki Brain & Mind cluster will collaborate with other ecosystems, networks, projects and companies, rooting the activity in the region and advancing the international competitiveness and investment attraction in Uusimaa region. In addition, the cluster will work as a local node of recently established Neurocenter Finland, advancing the execution of the national health sector growth strategy and Finland’s position at the top of digitalisation and innovation development.

HELSINKI BRAIN& MIND UTILISES DIGITALISATION AND DEVELOPS AI-BASED BRAIN IMAGING ANALYSIS