This case study was sourced from the University of Bradford and featured as part of Universities UK Unis Start up the UK campaign.
The Process
I-Diagnose is the brainchild of physician associate Aaron Walshaw and pharmacist Sania Bibi, who developed their idea through the Bradford-Renduchintala Enterprise Ecosystem (BREE) and specifically through a programme known as the Accelerated Student Entrepreneurship Programmes (ASEP). Clinical evaluations known as Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) are often costly and difficult to organise as they require a minimum of three people and sometimes involve hiring actors to play certain roles. Aaron and Sania, aim to harness the power of machine learning and AI to transforming traditional OSCEs, providing an immersive learning experience for healthcare professionals.
Aaron, who graduated with an MSc in Physician Associate Studies in 2023 said:
“The traditional method of OSCE examination is resource intensive and time-consuming and often requires significant administrative support. With advances in technology, we have the option to offer alternative solutions that are more cost effective and more efficient. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need for assessment methods that can be conducted remotely.”
Sania graduated in 2022 with a Masters in Pharmacy said:
“I-Diagnose offers a number of advantages over traditional OSCE examinations. It allows healthcare students to practise anytime, anywhere and still learn clinical skills in a safe, unbiased, standardised, and structured environment. It saves time and money for exam organisers and it can improve the quality of medical education by providing immediate feedback.”
The Result
I-Diagnose uses machine learning and AI, drawing data from thousands of real cases, to simulate different scenarios, making it quicker and cheaper to organise, while also providing students with immediate feedback.
After pitching their business idea to the University, they secured a six-figure investment sum that includes ‘in-kind’ staff time and the cost of employing a web developer. The University, in turn, will receive an amount of equity in the start-up. You can now book a demo of the I-Diagnose software.
