Research Director adds to the vision for e-health

Reference: 10/14

A renowned researcher into the development of technologies designed to prevent blindness, Dr Kanagasingam Yogesan, has been appointed Research Director of the Australian e-Health Research Centre (AEHRC).

• 23 February 2010

A joint venture between CSIRO and the Queensland Government, the AEHRC is the leading national research facility applying information and communications technologies to improving health services and clinical treatments for all Australians.

“The technology-driven transformation of healthcare delivery will change the way medicine is practised,” Dr Yogesan said.

“Telemedicine and e-health technologies are the only way we can provide high quality care to everyone as healthcare costs rise, the population grows and increasing numbers of us are living longer.

“My particular emphasis is on using these technologies to meet the health needs of under-served populations in Australia and around the world,” Dr Yogesan said.

Coming to CSIRO from the Lions Eye Institute, Dr Yogesan is a champion for bringing eye care to the doorsteps of rural and remote populations and building diagnostic technologies for the prevention of blindness.

In his new role, he plans to continue developing low-cost, non-invasive diagnostic imaging technologies for early detection of conditions, ranging from those that directly threaten sight, through to stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

AEHRC CEO, Dr Phil Gurney said Dr Yogesan’s experience in developing and commercialising low-cost eye imaging systems, combined with his knowledge of what works in telemedicine, would be a great boost for the Centre’s research programs.

“Dr Yogesan and his team are currently based at CSIRO’s Floreat site in Perth, and this gives CSIRO the ability to extend the national reach of its eHealth research,” Dr Gurney said.

An internationally recognised scholar in the field of tele-medicine and e-health, Dr Yogesan has been the recipient of many awards.

Most recently he was awarded a Millennium Award by the Diabetes Australia Research Trust which will fund the development of a screening device aimed at preventing sight loss in people with diabetes.

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