HSL launches The Carolina Digital Health Research Initiative

The Health Sciences Library is pleased to announce that in collaboration with the School of Medicine we have created The Carolina Digital Health Research Initiative (CaDHRI). This initiative is designed to provide a catalyst for disruptive innovation in digital health research and clinical care at Carolina.

“This initiative will provide clinical researchers access to mobile devices and technical support services that will help catalyze the use of mobile health technology in clinical research,” said Dr. Michael Pignone, Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology at Carolina. “Investing in the infrastructure for disruptive innovation gives us the strongest leverage for ensuring breakthrough results in research and clinical care. Nowhere is this more true than in chronic disease management where mobile health technology will have a major impact on improving health outcomes and reducing costs.”

CaDHRI supports digital health researchers on campus through consultations, device lending, and events. The initiative convenes experts from across campus to help researchers plan and execute their studies. CaDHRI has already started creating a digital health device collection at the HSL that initially will consist of wearable digital health devices, health sensors, and smartphones. Collection items will be available for researchers to test devices and applications, and can be used in developing digital health interventions. CaDHRI will also host a series of digital health workshops, seminars, and speakers starting this Fall.

CaDHRI is funded through a $50,000 grant from the School of Medicine’s Center for Innovation and was designed to complement the Center’s ongoing work in digital health. Dr. Carlton Moore, Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Carolina, and Brian Moynihan, Head of Health IT for the HSL, are leading the effort and will provide leadership for CaDHRI.

“This initiative really leverages the strengths of the library, including support for researchers across the research lifecycle, facilities to support events, and expertise working with data sources and evidence-based medicine,” said HSL Interim Director Christie Degener.

To learn more about CaDHRI, please email digitalhealth@unc.edu.