Wrocław University of Technology launched a biomedical informatics lab, where research will be conducted, among others, on the use of virtual reality in the training of doctors and in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer\'s disease.
Launching a modern laboratory is associated with opening a new field of study at the university - medical informatics. Michał Ciepielski from the Wrocław University of Technology press office told PAP on Monday that the university decided to launch a new field of study because an increasing role of computer science in medicine.
"This includes not only the use of computer networks and medical databases, but also the application of information technology in the creation of electronic patient charts or processing biomedical signals obtained during diagnostic tests" - said Ciepielski.
Students of the new course can take advantage of modern laboratory where classes related to computer graphics and virtual reality are taught.
The new laboratory will also carry out a project involving the use of virtual reality in the training of neurosurgeons. "There is nothing more complicated than brain surgery. Any errors carry huge and often irreversible consequences. The idea of our project is that a neurosurgeon can prepare for specific surgery and test different solutions in virtual reality" - said Dr. Mirosław Łątka of the Department of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wrocław University of Technology.
The Wrocław university lab will also carry out a project related to early diagnosis of Alzheimer\'s disease. Research will concern balance disorders in patients diagnosed with this disease. The project will use 3D devices and a posturographic platform with which checks the dynamics of the centre of gravity.
"Healthy people have a problem with balance when they close their eyes. There is a hypothesis that people suffering from Alzheimer\'s disease are more stable with their eyes closed. We want to determine at which stage of the disease such imbalances occur. This is important as it can significantly speed up the disease detection. In addition, such a diagnostic test will be much cheaper than the previously used solutions" - emphasised Dr. Łątka.
Medical centres in Wrocław and Opole are involved in the projects carried out by Wrocław University of Technology.
W projekty prowadzone przez wrocławską uczelni zaangażowane są ośrodki medyczne z Wrocławia i Opola.
PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland
pdo/ mhr/ zan/
tr. RL
