A Holistic Approach to Healthcare and Health Systems

Infectious diseases and the global threat of antimicrobial resistance are affecting the human population

with devastating costs to society as the incidence of untreatable infectious diseases increases.

Taking a holistic health system approach based on actionable Big Data analytics, we can deliver

improved health outcomes, quality of life and productivity.

IBM Research is contributing to combat AMR and infectious diseases by harnessing Big Data research

and technologies to create a paradigm shift to address the root causes of AMR and infectious diseases.

www.zurich.ibm.com/science-posters/

References and links:

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABmIeWcmG3E

• M. Davis et al. “Spatio-temporal information and knowledge representation of disease incidence and

respective intervention strategies,” Studies in Health Technology and Informatics 205, 1173-1177, 2014

• www.zurich.ibm.com/~mre

Achieving the UN Millenium Development Goals

The Cognitive Health Care and Health System Hub represents a framework to build sustainable health

systems to reduce child mortality rates, improve maternal health and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria

and other diseases.

The framework comprises an interface for stakeholders, backed by a cognitive computing and advanced

analytics layer, and features an integrated data foundation.

An Interdisciplinary, Global Effort

This project brings together skills in microbiology, chemistry,

engineering and computer science from IBM Research – Africa,

Almaden, Australia, Yorktown Heights (USA) and Zurich.

We have also initiated a European consortium that will investigate

actionable Big Data (ABiD) to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Breaking the Disease Chain of Causation

Investigating the chain of causation with a holistic view allows us to understand

disease mechanisms, the spread of diseases and their impact on society.

This insight in turn creates opportunities to break the disease chain

through multiple and diverse actions, both on an individual

and a public-health level.

Cognitive Healthcare & Health Systems HubFighting Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Infectious Diseases

Matthias Reumann, Kelly Wyres, Matthew Davis, Stefan von Cavallar, Martin J. Sepulveda, Meenal Pore, Priscilla Rogers

IBM Research GmbH

University of Zurich

CeMeT

Analytics Engines

Lund University

Aristotle University

of Thessaloniki

AgaplesionMaastricht University

Nutritional health promotion

and assessment

• Breast feeding

• Micronutrient supplements

• Malnourishment

HIV testing

Genetic status testing

• Sickle cell allele carrier

Emergency care

Access to therapy

Case management

Improve hygiene

Control exposure

• Siblings

• Daycare

Reservoir HostPortal of entryAgentMode of

transmission

Portal of exit

Human with

malaria

Mosquito bites

uninfected

human

Human

becomes

infected

Protozoa

multiplying in

mosquito

MosquitoMosquito bites

infected human

Distribute

insecticide-

treated nets

Insecticide

spraying

Monitor climate

• Mosquito development

Home materials

• Mosquito breeding

Understand species distribution

& resistance

Chain of causation – Malaria

Intervention opportunities

Understand

species

distribution &

resistance

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