The TEMIS project successfully applied innovative Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to the medical sector to achieve cost efficiencies in healthcare provision – in particular personalised medicine – and thus improve patient care. The project established a durable cross-border cooperation network in southwestern Europe that has the potential to be replicated elsewhere.
- 19 January 2017
Medical research has shown that lifestyle can have a major impact on many diseases, in particular chronic diseases, affecting both the risk factors and the progression of the illness. In order to develop effective personalised medicine, it is necessary to create affordable and easy-to-use technologies that can test the lifestyle of a large amount of people on a daily basis.
The TEMIS project developed new products that accurately monitor the daily lifestyle of patients in order to improve personalised medicine, healthcare services and medical research. These easy to use solutions are relevant for several diseases.
A network of ICT professionals in Spain (Aragon and Catalonia), France (Midi-Pyrénées) and Portugal (Lisbon) was also established, with many showing an interest in further collaborative work. For example, the Spanish association of Parkinson patients is now working some of the partners to roll out a tailored ICT solution for those with the disease.
Moving towards personalised medicine
While medical care has until recently been based on standards defined by large-scale epidemiological studies, medical research is slowly moving towards the personalisation of healthcare for specific individuals. However, personalised medicine is only possible if precise information about the patient is accessible, in particular the individual and family medical history, the genetic profile, the lifestyle and environment.
This is where the TEMIS project comes in. To achieve efficient personalised medicine, it is necessary to create affordable and easy-to-use technologies that can test the lifestyle of a large amount of people on a daily basis. These solutions need to be simple, innovative, accurate and, at the same time, inexpensive and widely accessible.
Data on physical activity
The project has therefore developed and tested new technologies that include an Android application for smartphones that collects data of physical activity from healthy volunteers and from patients with Parkinson disease, along with a Smart T-shirt that has sensors and can measure physical activity such as temperature, heart and breathing rates.
A Kinect application, based on a sensor associated with the Xbox game console, was also developed to test the movements of patients affected by Parkinson disease. During its first year, the project produced two reports to help identify market opportunities for these products.
Another key achievement was the creation of a platform to store and manage all data collected by the new innovative ICT devices. This platform acts as a kind of nerve centre, bringing together all partners and ongoing results from these devices. These results will help to boost the evolution of healthcare towards personalised treatment.
The project has also contributed towards improving the long term outlook of health care in the south west region. For example it has helped to define indicators and parameters for specific diseases, which can be used by health professionals to support the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery in patients. The transnational cooperation network of medical and technical professionals that has been established will also be built upon.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “TEMIS - Innovative Technologies To Support Personalized Medicine Services” is EUR 1 131 317, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 848 487 through the “South West Europe” Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period.