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A $4.9 million investment will fund groundbreaking research leveraging artificial intelligence to address the ofen-overlooked psychological and social needs of patients battling chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. In Australia, moving beyond conventional medical interventions to address the critical social and psychological factors impacting patient wellbeing. The projects, secured through the National Health and medical research Council (NHMRC) 2025 ideas Grants, represent a critically important step towards a more holistic and equitable healthcare system.
Connecting Patients to Community Support with AI
Professor Brian Oldenburg, a leading expert in public health and implementation science at La Trobe and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, will spearhead the $2.2 million “Connect4Health” project. This ambitious undertaking will utilize artificial intelligence to create a personalized support system for individuals living with chronic conditions. The system aims to connect patients with vital resources such as social groups, walking clubs, and counseling services.
“While our health system does a good job managing the clinical and medical aspects of chronic disease, the social and psychological dimensions are frequently neglected,” professor Oldenburg explained. “This AI-enabled platform will go beyond generic advice by providing personalized navigation,called a social prescription,to relevant services and support that align with each person’s goals,cultural context,health literacy preferences and accessibility needs to ensure care feels relevant and inclusive.”
the Connect4Health project is uniquely co-designed with individuals who have lived experience with chronic illnesses, ensuring the system is truly patient-centered. This collaborative approach, alongside input from doctors and healthcare workers, will foster a supportive community extending beyond the confines of traditional medical settings. The five-year project will draw on expertise from La Trobe and Baker specialists in AI, disease prevention, rural health, loneliness, and social isolation, with collaborations extending to Denmark and the UK.
According to a general practitioner involved in the project, “The impact of chronic disease on people and their lives is enormous and often underestimated. Psychological health and chronic diseases frequently enough influence each other and the treatments used to manage them.” He further emphasized that the tool will empower patients by “putting resources directly into the hands of the person, giving them control over how they can manage their health.”
Implementation will begin in Melbourne and regional victoria, with plans to expand into regional Tasmania.
Urgent Research into Life-Threatening Aortic Aneurysms
In a separate, but equally vital, project, Professor Grant Drummond, co-Director of La Trobe’s Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, has secured $1.7 million to investigate abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) – a potentially fatal condition where the body’s main artery weakens and expands. AAA carries an alarmingly high mortality rate of 80 percent.
Currently, ther are no drugs available to treat AAA, and surgical intervention is often not feasible. Professor Drummond’s team will focus on the role of an inflammatory protein,interleukin-18,in the development of AAA. Their research aims to determine if blocking the activity of this protein could offer a new therapeutic avenue.
“We will examine how it activates immune cells and explore whether blocking its activity with new drugs could offer a viable treatment,” Professor Drummond stated.
La Trobe University Commits to Addressing Critical Health Challenges
La Trobe’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Chris Pakes, lauded the achievements of both research teams. “I commend both Professor Oldenburg and Professor Drummond on their achievements. These successes reflect both the excellence of their work and their dedication to addressing critical health challenges,” Pakes said. “The funding of these projects will have a lasting impact on the wellbeing of our communities.”
A case study of a diabetic patient benefiting from the Connect4Health approach is available upon request.
For media inquiries, please contact Jess Whitty at [email protected] or 0481 383 817.
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