Promoting innovation in remote and rural healthcare

Description of impact

Through the development of several novel digital healthcare innovations, multi-disciplinary research at the University of Aberdeen has introduced new products aiding provision of medical care under conditions where digital connection is limited (e.g. remote areas). This includes the creations of spin-out company, ‘MIME Technologies’, which now employs 6 people and has secured over GBP500,000 investment since 2019. MIME Technologies released ‘Aiber’ in 2020, a remote medical device, designed specifically for non-medical professional users and was one of only 10 companies to successfully enter the ATI Boeing Accelerator programme for 2021.

Aberdeen research has also underpinned the development of melanoma skin cancer screening application ‘ASICA’. Following investment from Cancer Research UK to conduct an initial clinical trial, the app has already led to diagnosis and referral of a patient is now part of an intervention in a ‘patient-led surveillance’ clinical trial at the University in Sydney, Australia.

Who is affected by, or benefits from, the research?

Patients. Public. Healthcare Workers. Policy Makers.

Outcomes to Date / Future Developments

Impact includes:
- Creation of a new spin-out company, significant economic investment (over GBP500,000) and job creation supporting rural economic development
- Launch of new product ‘Aiber’, enabling digital health innovation in various industry sectors, including aviation and maritime.
- Work with NHS partners in North east Scotland and East of England to pilot a low-cost digital solution to facilitate healthcare provision for melanoma screening in the UK
- Development of the ASICA app and support materials, through which at least one at-risk patient has been diagnosed

Impact status	Impact Completed (Open)
Impact date	2009 → 2020
Category of impact	Policy, Health and Wellbeing, Societal
Stage of Impact	Adoption