Health and Biotechnology
From understanding gene expression to optimising patient flows in
hospitals, CSIRO's mathematicians and statisticians are helping the health
and biotechnology industries to exploit the knowledge hidden in their
data. Here are some examples:
Bioinformatics
The biotechnology industry relies on exploiting the often complex and
very large data sets generated by microarray and other technologies. Using
microarray technology it is now possible to measure gene expression levels
for over 30,000 genes in a single experiment.
We are developing and applying world leading new techniques for
extracting meaningful information from gene expression data. This type of
analysis will lead to new insights into the mechanisms of disease, leading
to new diagnostic technologies and new drugs for treatment or disease.
Read more:
Image Analysis for drug discovery and diagnostics
In biotechnology and health there is an enormous amount of information
contained in images, in everything from samples on microscope slides to
cellular assays used in drug discovery.
CSIRO statisticians have expertise in automated extraction and analysis
of quantitative information from digital images. The applications of this
range from speeding up the drug discovery process to diagnosing skin
cancer.
Read more:
Optimising patient flows in hospitals
![animation of patient flows in an emergency department]() CSIRO mathematicians with expertise in operations research are helping
to minimise costs and optimise operational performance of healthcare
services through whole of system research in the area of health service
operational efficiency.
Some of the factors involved in optimising performance of the
healthcare system include identifying demand using epidemiological
forecasting, determining the allocation of resources to meet this demand
and then scheduling the provision of these resources.
Animation of patient flows in an emergency department
(best viewed using IE)
The mathematical challenge is to develop assignment and scheduling
algorithms that can seamlessly deal with the different degrees of
uncertainty in the healthcare system and provide planners and managers
with the tools to meet patient needs.
These decision systems will support healthcare management in areas such
as:
- allocation of beds to medical programs
- scheduling of operating theatres
- assignment of patients to beds in wards
- flow of patients between facilities
Read more:
Further information on our research in health and biotechnology
Contact
Mr Andrew Dingjan
Business Development Manager
CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics Private Bag 33
Clayton South, VIC 3169
+61 3 9545 8040
Andrew.Dingjan@csiro.au |
