My Topol fellowship problem / project:
Falls in older adults pose a major health concern, particularly in those over 65 with visual impairments such as age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma. Current approaches to assessing falls risk are limited and often lack real-world context. My project aims to harness wearable technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to gain a deeper understanding of individual falls risk in daily living settings.
By combining inertial data from wearables with video-based data from smart glasses, I will examine how visually impaired individuals with high falls risk navigate their environments and identify visual cues that promote safer mobility. This project will also explore the ethical use of AI and privacy concerns in collaboration with older adult patients.
I will conduct two studies: the first will involve co-creating and co-designing AI and wearable technology solutions with older adult participants, while the second will evaluate AI models in collaboration with Northumbria University. The goal is to assess visually impaired individuals’ mobility in real-world settings and determine how they explore their environment.
Ultimately, this project aims to provide ophthalmologists with a robust evidence base for counselling patients with new visual impairments, develop educational packages to support future patients, and promote safe mobility in this vulnerable population. By doing so, we can help prevent the negative effects of sedentary lifestyles and enhance independence for those with visual impairments.
About me
As an ophthalmology registrar with a keen interest in sub-specialising in medical retina and uveitis, my overarching goals encompass practising digitally-driven medicine, effecting positive change on the ground in clinics and theatres, while fostering innovation in healthcare.
I graduated from Warwick University with an MBBS and hold a BSc (Hons) in Optometry from Bradford University. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work in different roles and settings, including a hospital optometrist and clinical trial co-ordinator. To merge my interests in healthcare and digital transformation, I pursued additional education, completing a Digital Transformation in Healthcare course at Imperial Business School and a Health Informatics Professional Development Programme at Newcastle University’s Institute of Coding, which led me to become an Associate of the Faculty of Clinical Informatics. Through leading regional projects, I also completed a Leadership & Management Apprenticeship from the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Outside of work, my interests include sea kayaking, hiking, alpine mountaineering, and cooking. As a clinical informatician, I aspire to extend my reach and impact not just to patients today but also the future workforce of the NHS, ultimately enhancing healthcare practices and creating public value.