ZHAW Digital Health Lab
The ZHAW Digital Health Lab brings together experts from the fields of biomedicine, health, technology and business, who together create innovations for digitisation in healthcare.
Our vision
We firmly believe that through sustainable digital transformation, the healthcare system can be enhanced, leading to improved health and well-being for the population and all stakeholders.
Our mission
Our contribution to fostering intelligent digital transformation in the healthcare sector includes:
- Conducting application-oriented, interdisciplinary research and development while ensuring the transfer of knowledge and methods into both education and practical application.
- Connecting expertise from specialized research groups and establishing practical contacts across various domains, roles, and hierarchies.
- Cultivating synergies through collaborative network efforts, thereby serving as a unique hub for interdisciplinary, application-oriented excellence.
Newsletter
Would you like to stay informed about the latest news, studies and publications, as well as events and current projects in the field of digital health?
Our newsletter is published approximately three to four times a year.
We look forward to connecting with you and keeping you regularly updated. Please use the form below to subscribe to our newsletter.
8. Digital Health Lab Day February 10th, 2027
*** Secure your Early Bird ticket now – until end of October! ***
Focus Topic: Integrating Smart Solutions into Everyday Healthcare Practice
The technologies already exist – but how do they find their way into the daily processes of healthcare? This is the question at the heart of the 8th Digital Health Lab Day, taking place on Wednesday, February 10, 2027, at the ZHAW School of Management and Law in Winterthur.
Through keynotes, workshops, poster presentations, startup pitches, and other interactive formats, participants will explore and discuss current developments and practical applications of digital health solutions. Inspiring real-world showcases will demonstrate how innovative technologies can be successfully integrated into healthcare delivery and everyday clinical practice.
Information & Registration
Stay tuned - further information and registration details will be available here soon
Micro-Teachings
Small knowledge bites for digital transformation
We offer you compact and practical courses on current topics in digital health. In our overview, you will find a wide range of micro-teachings delivered by experienced instructors, covering everything from fundamentals to specialised topics in the digitalisation of healthcare.
Projects
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Delirium DynamiX (DDX)
Delirium DynamiX harnesses high-resolution USZ ICU data with on-prem LLMs and novel time-series Additive Bayesian Networks. This interpretable modeling of dynamic causal chains enables / earlier delirium detection, / targeted interventions, external validation, / a co-designed dashboard, and / a…
current, 06/2026 - 05/2029
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Trustworthy AI Circle (TAIC)
In a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation into everyday practice, the gap between high-level principles and real-world implementation is becoming increasingly visible. While frameworks for trustworthy AI are evolving, their translation into concrete decisions,…
current, 05/2026 - 10/2027
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Development of the basis for the digitalisation roadmap for facility management at the Winterthur Integrated Psychiatry (IPW)
In collaboration with the Integrierte Psychiatrie Winterthur – Zürcher Unterland, the ZHAW is developing the strategic foundation for a digitalisation roadmap and investment proposal for their facility management department.
current, 04/2026 - 10/2026
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Comparative genomics tools for analysis and detailed description of the clinically relevant bacterial genus Phytobacter
Genome data is available for many bacterial genera. This treasure of data is often understudied for taxonomic purposes, but also for the genomic context of such bacteria.
current, 04/2026 - 03/2028
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Harnessing digital twins for healthcare - Cerebrovascular Autoregulation in Critical Care (NeuroVascTwin)
We will explore the concept of Digital Twin in Healthcare to virtually reproduce patient-specific pathophysiological systems.
current, 02/2026 - 12/2027
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Revision and Evaluation of a Smartphone-Based Self-Help App for Individuals With Headaches (BalanceUP2.0)
Technical modernization and conceptual flexibilization of the evidence-based BalanceUP app for individuals with headaches.
current, 02/2026 - 01/2028
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A data-driven solution that optimizes ankle-foot-orthopedic braces for children (OrthoSense)
OrthoSense by Leg&airy revolutionizes ankle-foot orthotics by turning subjective brace fitting into data-driven care. Embedded sensors capture pressure data, enabling AI driven biomechanical algorithms to tailor each brace’s shape and fit to the individual patient while enabling patients tracking.
current, 01/2026 - 12/2027
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Rad Dose and Image Qual Monitoring RADIM
current, 01/2026 - 12/2027
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Resource Activation for Teachers' Well-being (REACT)
Teaching is a highly stressful profession. This project aims to develop a scalable smartphone app using Just-In-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAI) to enhance teachers’ well-being by activating resources. It will assess both effectiveness and implementation, with a user-centered and evidence-based…
current, 10/2025 - 09/2028
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Antimicrobial Resistance Tracker (AMR)
The goal of the project is to strengthen surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in animals and food products, with a focus on international travelers. The project will explore (and quantify the uncertainty of) using AI-based text and image mining techniques to extract data on the prevalence of…
current, 08/2025 - 07/2028
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User-centered design of a resource-based selfmanagement app (EmPower)
The project develops a pilot self-help app to strengthen self-efficacy and quality of life for those affected. By applying a user-centered design, needs are assessed, a prototype is created, and acceptance and usage potential are evaluated.
expired, 04/2025 - 01/2026
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SCRAI – A Think-and-Do-Tank for Responsible Development and Societal Alignment of Artificial Intelligence Systems
SCRAI brings responsible AI to the ground by bridging the gap between societal values and development of AI technology and solutions. The SCRAI Think-and-Do Tank will help organizations to exploit the potential of AI while complying with legal requirements and being compatible with societal…
current, 04/2025 - 12/2029
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Playful support for digital change in care or nursing homes
ImaginEd is a simulation game for supporting digital change in schools. We want to explore the extent to which the game is suitable for use in retirement/nursing homes (APHs) and what needs to be adapted for specific contexts, so that APHs can also be supported.
expired, 03/2025 - 02/2026
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Evidence-Based Diagnostic Assistance for Echocardiography (EchoRapp-AI)
Echocardiography is the most common method for assessing cardiovascular conditions, yet complex and time-consuming. The proposed solution ensures improved, cost-effective patient care by generating comprehensive and evidence-based diagnostic reports, leveraging automated image and data analysis.
current, 11/2024 - 12/2026
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RobotCare – User experience in development of service robots for elderly care
Objectives of the project: / Establish a systematic dialogue between the technology developers and researchers and the elderly/healthcare institution stakeholders (including medical, care, and service personnel, management, patients, and their families) in both regions and develop a suitable…
expired, 09/2024 - 08/2025
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Deep Learning-Based Real-Time EEG Monitoring for Clinical Interventions (ConCLAS)
The ConCLAS project pioneers deep-learning analysis of high-density EEG data, combining it with real-time closed-loop auditory brain stimulation. The resulting enabling technology enhances non-invasive brain interventions developed by Tosoo AG and TI Solutions AG, and advances clinical diagnostics…
current, 09/2024 - 08/2027
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Scientific Analysis of the Added Value of a Digital Medication Logistics Solution in Hospitals and Nursing Homes
expired, 06/2024 - 06/2025
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Brain Research International Data Governance & Exchange – Phase II
The goal of this project is to develop an International Data Governance Framework (IDGF) that can advance responsible international brain research and innovation. This will start with the identification of the technical, legal, ethical and organizational challenges to IDGF and the development of…
expired, 04/2024 - 04/2025
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Brain Research International Data Governance & Exchange
The goal of this project is to develop an International Data Governance Framework (IDGF) that can advance responsible international brain research and innovation. This will start with the identification of the technical, legal, ethical and organizational challenges to IDGF and the development of…
expired, 11/2023 - 04/2024
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Usability Study ZHAW - mobile speech documentation in clinical contexts (USZ-MSIKU)
In collaboration with the digital health start-up Adamcares, the ZHAW Usability Lab is investigating the user-friendliness and acceptance of a voice-based documentation for nurses, powered by an AI. The goal is to see if and how the integration on a smartphone or tablet immediately reduces the…
expired, 08/2023 - 12/2024
Publications
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Scheermesser, Mandy; Wirz, Markus,
2026.
GesundheitsApps auswählen : eine Checkliste für Fachpersonen.
Clinicum.
(3), pp. 33-35.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-37355
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Kölbl, Nikola; Tziridis, Konstantin; Maier, Andreas; Kinfe, Thomas; Chavarriaga, Ricardo; Schilling, Achim; Krauss, Patrick,
2026.
NeuroImage.
334(121966).
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-36546
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Riedel, Evamaria Olga; de la Rosa, Ezequiel; Baran, The Anh; Hernandez Petzsche, Moritz; Baazaoui, Hakim; Yang, Kaiyuan; Musio, Fabio; Huang, Houjing; Robben, David; Seia, Joaquin Oscar; Wiest, Roland; Reyes, Mauricio; Su, Ruisheng; Zimmer, Claus; Boeckh-Behrens, Tobias; Berndt, Maria; Menze, Bjoern; Rueckert, Daniel; Wiestler, Benedikt; Wegener, Susanne; Kirschke, Jan Stefan,
2026.
Radiology: Artificial Intelligence.
8(3), pp. e250603.
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Kölbl, Nikola; Rampp, Stefan; Kaltenhäuser, Martin; Tziridis, Konstantin; Maier, Andreas; Kinfe, Thomas; Chavarriaga, Ricardo; Krauss, Patrick; Schilling, Achim,
2026.
Prediction, syntax and semantic grounding in the brain and large language models.
Scientific Reports.
16(1), pp. 8728.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-36017
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Musio, Fabio; Juchler, Norman; Yang, Kaiyuan; Shit, Suprosanna; Prabhakar, Chinmay; Menze, Bjoern; Hirsch, Sven,
2026.
Circle of Willis centerline graphs : a dataset and baseline algorithm.
Neuroscience Informatics.
6(1), pp. 100265.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-35597
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Gerber, Nicole; Zigan, Nicole; Sieber, Marcel,
2026.
Abschlussbericht DFF-Projekt Spielerische Unterstützung im digitalen Wandel in Alters-/Pflegeheimen.
Winterthur:
ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-35863
Contact
Would you like to know more about the ZHAW Digital Health Lab? Alternatively, would you like to join us in creating healthcare innovations? Contact us at digitalhealthlab@zhaw.ch.
