Revolutionising digital health using mathematics

Drawing on expertise from multiple fields, digital health thrives on interdisciplinary collaboration and co-creation to improve health services and patient outcomes. The 2025 THE Digital Health Asia event, organised in partnership with City University of Hong Kong and the university’s Institute of Digital Medicine, will offer an impactful forum for thought leadership and knowledge sharing to address the challenges facing the global medical sector. 

The first event in THE’s Digital Health series to be held in Asia, the conference will cover areas such as biotechnology, AI, medical data and digital innovation. Among the global scholars and leaders participating in the event is Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova, vice-president and deputy vice-chancellor of research and impact at the University of Exeter.

Tsaneva-Atanasova believes that mathematics can be a transformative force in shaping the future of healthcare. Her career highlights the impact of interdisciplinary research and collaboration. As a young scholar, she pursued a PhD exploring how mathematical models can be applied to biological systems, later embarking on postdoctoral research alongside clinicians and scientists. This experience strengthened her understanding that mathematical modelling can improve clinical practices by unlocking insights into biomedical processes.

Tsaneva-Atanasova has been a pioneering voice in digital health for many years. In her previous role, she collaborated with health tech companies and clinical partners to develop AI tools for the UK’s NHS.  

She focuses on using mathematics to translate health data into actionable insights. “Healthcare systems are increasingly relying on data, but data alone doesn’t always offer clarity. That’s where models come into play,” says Tsaneva-Atanasova.

 

Mathematical modelling supports clinical decision-making by enabling hypothesis testing, intervention simulation and personalised treatment planning, which are especially important for patients with multiple health conditions. “I have seen how mathematical modelling can shape diagnostics and help clinicians manage complex conditions more effectively,” she says.

Tsaneva-Atanasova and her team are exploring a modelling framework that uses patients’ medical histories to empower doctors to make well-informed, patient-specific decisions. This innovation can shift the focus of medicine from population-level data to personalised care.

Although advancements in technology hold significant promise for digital health, adoption can be difficult. According to Tsaneva-Atanasova, education is crucial for building patient trust. She outlines three key strategies for enhancing digital health: engage clinicians and patients to ensure digital tools are practical and relevant; integrate scientists and experts from other fields into the medical sector to drive innovation through collaboration; and create interdisciplinary hubs that facilitate the translation of research into clinical practice.

“We are at a tipping point in digital health,” says Tsaneva-Atanasova. “With vast datasets and powerful technologies at our fingertips, the focus must shift to integration and practical implementation.” She regards digital health as a transformative domain that can tackle global health challenges. However, embracing interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation will be the key to unlocking its full potential.

Set to take place in September 2025, the Digital Health Asia event will bring together experts, academics, policymakers and industry leaders to discuss cutting-edge applications and future trends in digital health. 

Find out more about Digital Health Asia 2025.