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.
Would you like to be informed about current news, studies and publications, events and current projects in the field of Digital Health? Our newsletter is published about 3 - 4 times a year.
Digital Health Lab Symposium 2026
The symposium offers an interdisciplinary platform for discussion on current developments in the field of digital health and is aimed at experts at the interface of medicine, medical physics, (hospital) pharmacy, laboratory medicine, medical informatics, data science and digital solutions in clinical practice.
Topics include:
- Systems Medicine in the Era of Digital Health
- Radiology and Radiooncology in the Era of Digital Health
- Economic Perspective and Implementation of AI in Clinics
- AI in Physiotherapy
Digital Health Lab Day 2027
*** Save the date for the 8th Digital Health Lab Day - February 10, 2027 ***
Focus Topic: Integrating Smart Solutions into Everyday Healthcare Practice
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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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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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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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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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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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
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Media · Interaction · Cognition · Adolescents · Health (MICAH)
During adolescence, brains and lives change rapidly. We investigate how digital media practices – such as social media, messaging, gaming, and video –relate to mental health and the development of executive functions like attention, working memory, inhibition, and flexibility. For a balanced…
current, 08/2023 - 12/2026
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Stroke DynamiX – Graphical and Causal Networks for Personalized Stroke Management
Stroke DynamiX explores data-driven stroke management using machine-learning techniques in a consortium of statistics researchers, translational enablers, and clinical partners. We implement statistical tools to dynamically model stroke epidemiologically and predict real-time sepsis onset in the…
expired, 05/2023 - 04/2026
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Machine Learning for Body Composition Analysis (ML-BCA)
The Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAI) of the ZHAW, together with the Cantonal Hospital Aarau, has laid the foundations for machine learning-supported body composition analysis on image files of the KSA within the framework of preliminary studies and has achieved promising results. The aim of…
expired, 04/2023 - 03/2025
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Digital Health Zurich: a practice lab for patient-centred clinical innovation
Digital Health Zurich researches digital health solutions in the hospital context and implements them efficiently and with practical relevance. Core topics are Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROMs), remote monitoring, integrated care and related technologies as well as empowerment of patients and…
current, 02/2023 - 01/2028
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Improving the well-being of residents in care homes by making catering services more flexible with the help of technology
It was known from previous projects that catering services in retirement and nursing homes are currently strongly geared towards working hours and the presence of employees. With the increasing individualisation of society, it can be assumed that future residents will demand more flexible catering…
expired, 10/2022 - 01/2023
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Design Living-Lab (DHDLivingLab)
The DHD Living Lab (Digital Health Design Living Lab) creates an interdisciplinary framework that acts as a catalyst for innovative research and development projects led by both experienced and early-career researchers at the intersection of digitalisation, health, ethics and design.
current, 10/2022 - 12/2027
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Building a global bridge in health professions
Motivation/Rational: Given the rapid change in the health care capacity and demand land-scape globally, looking at international collaboration for health professional education is key to success to meet future challenges nurses and midwives will be confronted with. The School of Health Sciences ZHAW…
expired, 09/2022 - 10/2024
Publications
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Spinner, Georg; Gerber, Nicole,
2022.
Bayesian network analysis for data-driven decision support.
TRANSFER Special.
pp. 20.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-25931
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Delucchi, Matteo; Spinner, Georg Ralph; Scutari, Marco; Bijlenga, Philippe; Morel, Sandrine; Friedrich, Christoph M.; Hirsch, Sven,
2022.
Bayesian networks to disentangle the interplay of intracranial aneurysm rupture risk factors[paper].
In:
Nithiarasu, Perumal; Vergara, Christian, eds.,
CMBE 2022 : 7th International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering.
7th International Conference on Computational and Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (CMBE22), Milan, Italy, 27-29 June 2022.
Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering.
pp. 22-25.
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Spinner, Georg; Gerber, Nicole,
2022.
Datengetriebene Entscheidungsunterstützung mittels Bayes’scher Netzwerke.
TRANSFER Spezial.
pp. 20.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-25930
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Renyi, Madeleine; Hegedüs, Anna; Schmitter, Paul; Berger, Fabian; Ballmer, Thomas Michael; Maier, Edith; Kunze, Christophe,
2022.
Lessons learned : the multifaceted field of (digital) neighborhood development.
The Journal of Community Informatics.
18(1).
Available from: https://doi.org/10.15353/joci.v18i1.4427
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Spinner, Georg R.; Delucchi, Matteo; Morel, Sandrine; Bijlenga, Philippe; Hirsch, Sven,
2022.
In:
Nithiarasu, Perumal; Vergara, Christian, eds.,
CMBE 2022 : 7th International Conference on Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering.
7th International Conference on Computational and Mathematical Biomedical Engineering (CMBE22), Milan, Italy, 27-29 June 2022.
Computational & Mathematical Biomedical Engineering.
pp. 72-75.
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Gatziu Grivas, Stella; Schmitter, Paul; Kirecci, Ilyas,
2021.
Die ABILI-Methodik : Navigation bei der digitalen Transformation.
In:
FM Perspektiven: FM Innovationen in HC digital, Wädenswil, 26. November 2021.
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.
