Funding, research, networking – the AI Center for Health Care is training the next generation of talent for the future of healthcare. However, they face numerous hurdles along the way, some related to bureaucracy and some to unequal resources.

In this episode of the Digital Public Health Podcast, host Rasmus Cloes talks to Dr. Monika Michaelis, the coordinator of the AI Center for Health Care at the U Bremen Research Alliance (UBRA). It turns out that Bremen is becoming a leading location for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and Monika explains how the center is helping to bring research findings directly into clinical practice.

Monika provides insights into interdisciplinary projects covering areas such as imaging, prosthesis development and the early detection of dementia. She explains how the center brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines – from psychology to materials science – and thus maximizes the clinical benefits of AI applications. But not everything runs smoothly: access to health data remains a challenge that the team is particularly concerned with. But founding a company also seems to be more difficult in Bremen than in other cities. The center focuses on promoting young scientists. Monika describes how targeted support and networking are used to attract young talent to AI and health research.

In this episode, you will learn:

• AI and medicine: how the AI Center for Health Care is rethinking healthcare
• Interdisciplinary innovation: Why the interaction of different fields of expertise is so important
• Bremen as an AI location: How the UBRA is strengthening the region
• Promoting the next generation: How young talents are specifically supported
• Data access as an obstacle: Why health data is so central and often difficult to access

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On December 2-3, 2024, the U Bremen Research Alliance, in cooperation with JUST ADD AI, the Transfer Center for Artificial Intelligence BREMEN.AI and the Integrated Health Campus Bremen (IGB), is organizing the third “Bremen Symposium AI in Health”. The latest developments and innovative approaches in the field of artificial intelligence for healthcare will be presented and discussed, along with the future of healthcare and the transformative contribution of digital technologies, in particular AI. This event brings together experts from science, politics, business, and practice for a joint dialog and for the transfer of knowledge to society.

Participation is free of charge. Please register by November

Further information can be found here.

In the latest episode of the “Digital Public Health” podcast, host Rasmus Cloes talks to Simon Breul, head of the kom.fort e.V. advice center in Bremen. The non-profit organization, which specializes in barrier-free building and living, supports people by providing advice and technical solutions to help them live independently in their own homes. His conclusion about digitalization is mixed.

Digitization for more comfort and safety in everyday life

Breul explains how simple digital aids such as an intelligent motion detector or voice control can already increase safety and orientation by, for example, making night-time trips to the bathroom safer. “Such technologies can be crucial in preventing falls and giving older people more autonomy,” says Breul. The preventive integration of digital aids at key points in the home, such as the bathroom, can significantly support the safety and independence of older people.

Challenges: acceptance and financial accessibility

Breul sees the high costs of modern smart home systems and their often low acceptance among older users as a challenge. At kom.fort e.V., interested parties can try out various devices in the showroom and experience how technical aids can make everyday life easier. The association is working to simplify access to such solutions in order to strengthen trust in digital technologies and increase acceptance.

Prevention is the key to greater independence

In the interview, Breul also discusses the importance of prevention. Digital emergency call systems can detect inactivity at an early stage, enabling them to flag potential dangerous situations and allow faster intervention. “An intelligent emergency call device that reacts to inactivity in the bathroom can save lives,” explains Breul. This preventive technology can help relieve the burden on the care system while at the same time increasing the independence of the people concerned.

Privacy concerns are slowing down their spread

However, Breul also sees privacy issues in the widespread use of digital technologies in the private sphere. Many systems are based on the collection of personal data, which creates uncertainty among users. More data protection and locally stored data could help to promote the acceptance of digital assistant systems and thus enable more people to access these innovations.

Looking to the future: what still needs to be done

Even though digital assistant systems offer great potential, Breul says there is still a lot to be done to make them accessible to broad sections of the population. Increased research and more personalized advice could help older people to live safely and independently in their own homes for longer.

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In our new podcast episode, host Rasmus Cloes talks with Dr. Tobias Hayer, psychologist and gambling researcher at the Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research at the University of Bremen, about new entry points into addiction and why the internet can be so dangerous.

Dr. Tobias Hayer has been researching the topic of gambling addiction for many years and explains how the digital transformation is affecting gaming behavior and why online gambling such as sports betting and virtual slot machine games are becoming increasingly popular.

The new faces of gambling addiction

Young people, often male and with a migrant background, are among the risk groups. The discussion makes it clear how advertising and influencer marketing specifically address these target groups and what risks this entails.

From the arcade to the internet: new entry points

A central topic of this episode is the change in the paths to gambling addiction. Where slot machines used to be found in pubs, online offers now provide an easy way to gamble anytime, anywhere. Dr. Hayer describes how young people get used to gambling mechanisms through digital games and so-called “loot boxes” and how the transition to real gambling is often fluid.

Challenges in the protection of minors and prevention

Dr. Hayer criticizes the lack of up-to-date data on the gaming behavior of young people in Germany and calls for representative studies to better understand the effects of digitalization.

He also highlights the difficulties that exist in prevention and education in the digital age, where conventional approaches are often no longer sufficient. Support for those affected: What help is available?

Despite the growing problem, Dr. Hayer is optimistic about the support structures in Germany. He reports on everything from traditional outpatient counseling centers to new digital services such as online self-help groups and chat-based counseling. These can be an important source of support, especially for young people.

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