In my trip to the future, I was introduced to A.L.I.C.E @ SGH Campus, which opened my eyes to how innovation can improve healthcare. A.L.I.C.E is a strategic space for the development of new healthcare innovations, medical technologies and devices.
A.L.I.C.E @ SGH Campus spurs new ideas and collaborations between healthcare innovators and industry partners. The Centre, the first of several in the healthcare innovation ecosystem, allows collaborators to test healthcare solutions in real-world settings, and support startups and spin-off companies. It offers facilities such as 3D design and simulation software, and a prototyping laboratory.
Within A.L.I.C.E @ SGH Campus resides an extremely powerful computing machine known as CHROMA (Computational Health Research and Optimisation for Medical Advancements). CHROMA is SingHealth's first supercomputer, equipped with AI and developed in partnership with the National Supercomputing Centre Singapore. CHROMA processes and researches large amounts of clinical data. With its assistance, clinician scientists can develop large-scale, complex research for applications that potentially could improve patient care and predict disease risk, with solutions tailored to individual healthcare needs.
For example, CHROMA's AI models can determine if a patient has cardiovascular disease by analysing scans of heart arteries. The machine simulates human intelligence and problem-solving at an astonishing pace. Simulations that would normally take six to eight months can now be accomplished within a month or two.
An ongoing NHCS study, the AI-driven national Platform for CT cOronary angiography for clinicaL and industriaL applicatiOns (APOLLO), draws on CHROMA's computing power to build a national system to perform AI analyses on CT coronary angiography images, and provide detailed AI-generated reports on patients' conditions and their risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the future.
Apart from the SGH Campus, the A.L.I.C.E @ CGH Campus was launched on 8 April 2024. More Centres are set to come across other SingHealth campuses. A.L.I.C.E @ SGH Campus is a significant milestone in SingHealth's efforts to improve care through innovation and improving clinical outcomes for patients.
