Dr. Purang Abolmaesumi (ECE), Dr. Robert Rohling (ECE), Dr. Teresa Tsang (Faculty of Medicine), and Dr. Lukas Chrostowski (ECE).
On January 16, 2020 the Digital Technology Supercluster announced 14 new projects with a total investment of $25 million; eight focused on talent development for the digital economy, six in technology.
The Supercluster aims to position Canada as a global leader in digital technologies by bringing together small, medium-sized and large companies, post-secondary institutions, research organizations and not-for-profits. The Supercluster co-invests in ambitious technology development projects and new solutions to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of natural resources, healthcare and industrial sectors and energize the economy. The projects announced today will help create good jobs, drive economic growth, and elevate the reputation of Canada’s world-leading digital economy.
ECE Professors are partnering in the following technology and capacity building projects:
Intelligent Network for Point-of-Care Ultrasound (Technology Project)
Dr. Purang Abolmaesumi (UBC ECE Professor), Dr. Robert Rohling (UBC ECE Professor) and Dr. Teresa Tsang (UBC Cardiologist and Professor of Medicine) are partnering with the Intelligent Network for Point-of-Care Ultrasound project. The project is led by the Providence Health Care together with Clarius Mobile Health, Change Healthcare, and Rural Coordination Centre of BC as other partners.
The project will develop a bedside tool for doctors that combines machine learning, handheld ultrasound devices and a cloud-based platform to create an integrated and intelligent point-of-care ultrasound network to deliver faster, more accurate diagnoses to patients whether they reside in urban, rural or remote areas.
The intelligent network being built will provide visual feedback to family doctors and reduce the need for specialized training. The visual feedback will provide augmented assistance to the physician to make a diagnosis decision no matter where they are. The connected system will also load images centrally, making remote second opinions an easy option.
The project will initially target heart and pregnancy applications, and testing will begin where it can have the most impact on the lives of patients–with rural physicians. The Intelligent Network for Point-of-Care Ultrasound will help Canada lead the development of integrated, point-of-care diagnostics while improving healthcare delivery and outcomes for Canadians.
Learn more about the project here
Diversifying Talent in Quantum Computing (Capacity Building Project)
ECE Professor Dr. Lukas Chrostowski is co-leading the Diversifying Talent in Quantum Computingproject together with other partners. The 24-month project will work to ensure that young people are aware of the career opportunities presented by this revolutionary technology.
Led by the University of British Columbia (UBC), along with D-Wave, and UBC Geering Up Engineering Outreach, the program will deliver ready-to-use education kits and curriculum targeting K-12 students; workshops, summer camps, and public forums, including specialized programming for girls and Indigenous students; and teacher training through an online quantum computing resource hub and a bi-weekly “Quantum bits” podcast that will host well-known international academics and industry experts.
The computing kits and curriculum tools will include software that interfaces to the D-Wave quantum processor. The kit will include a teacher’s guide to the concept of quantum computing and its applications, and a basic handbook to enable students to create their own software experiments. All materials will be developed using evidence-based best practices, with content designed for a diverse audience. With Indigenous people underrepresented in STEM careers, the project will also work with Indigenous education leaders to deliver proactive community-based outreach to one of the fastest-growing populations in the country.
Learn more about the project here
Digital Technology Supercluster Press Release here