Led by Professor Axel Kaehne and Dr Julie Feather and funded by a £145,000 grant, the research synthesis project will see them use cutting edge research techniques to analyse data and results from over 800 research projects.
The project will inform the Health Foundation’s future research strategy and could also uncover new findings and recommendations for improving health care in the UK.
Professor Axel Kaehne said: “We’re excited to be able to bring together such a wide range of high-quality research into significant issues affecting health care in the UK, from advice on how individuals can improve their health right through to detailed recommendations for the NHS on how to improve outcomes for patients.
“By carrying out this research synthesis, we will help the Health Foundation continue to improve its research into health and care. Ultimately, this will impact all of the organisations and people who benefit from the Foundation’s excellent research.”
Professor Yannis Korkontzelos from Edge Hill’s Computer Science Department will lead on using AI to analyse the Health Foundation’s research data and identify patterns human eyes may have missed. He will also host workshops to train Health Foundation staff on how to use the technology.
Professor Yannis Korkontzelos said: “AI is a relatively new development but the technology is already changing how research is done. There is a great opportunity to retrospectively apply this cutting-edge technology to old research projects, shedding new light on them and uncovering new findings and patterns in the data. It’s also exciting that the Health Foundation will use this technology in their research in the future creating a lasting impact.”
The Health Foundation is an independent charitable organisation working to build a healthier UK. Its research focuses on the Health Foundation’s three strategic priorities; improving people’s health and reducing inequalities; supporting radical innovation and improvement in health and care services; and providing evidence and analysis to improve health and care policy.
Dr Justine Karpusheff, Assistant Director of Research at the Health Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be working with Edge Hill University and are excited to benefit from their blended, innovative approach using both traditional research methods and AI to generate a synthesis of the Health Foundation’s legacy of funded research and apply insights to future thinking and funding.”
The Evaluation and Policy Analysis Research Unit at Edge Hill is an interdisciplinary team of specialists from across the University undertaking programme evaluations and policy-focussed analysis and research. For this project, the EPA will be supported by Dr Michelle Maden from the University of Liverpool.
Find out more about the courses Edge Hill University’s Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine offers on the website.
October 9, 2023
