{"id":1594,"date":"2025-04-29T13:43:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T12:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/ris\/?p=1594"},"modified":"2025-05-30T13:45:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T12:45:18","slug":"ai-powered-virtual-humans-set-to-boost-nhs-care-in-kent-and-medway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/ris\/2025\/04\/29\/ai-powered-virtual-humans-set-to-boost-nhs-care-in-kent-and-medway\/","title":{"rendered":"AI-powered virtual humans set to boost NHS care in Kent and Medway"},"content":{"rendered":"

A half a million-pound collaboration between Kent researchers and NHS professionals will explore how AI-powered \u2018virtual humans\u2019 can be used by regional healthcare providers to make NHS services more accessible, efficient, and inclusive.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The TRANSFORM-VHT project will investigate how Virtual Human Technology (VHT) \u2013 AI-driven digital characters capable of holding natural conversations \u2013 can be integrated into both general and mental healthcare settings to support patients and clinicians. These virtual clinical assistants have potential to ease pressure on NHS staff by answering common questions, delivering information, and assisting with routine care tasks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Funded through the\u00a0<\/span>UKRI EPSRC Health Technologies Connectivity Award<\/span><\/a>, the project will see researchers from\u00a0<\/span>Kent and Medway Medical School<\/span><\/a>, the\u00a0<\/span>School of Engineering, Mathematics and Physics<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span>School of Computing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0work together with two key NHS providers,\u00a0<\/span>Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(KMPT) and\u00a0<\/span>Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(MTW).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The project places particular emphasis on supporting rural and coastal communities, where residents often face limited access to healthcare services and persistent health inequalities. By co-designing AI-powered tools with both clinicians and patients, the research team aims to deliver solutions that are inclusive, responsive, and grounded in real-world needs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Professor Sukhwinder Shergill<\/span><\/a>, Director of Research in Kent and Medway Medical School and Director of Research & Innovation at KMPT, will lead the project alongside\u00a0<\/span>Professor Jim Ang<\/span><\/a>, Professor of Human-Computer Interaction,\u00a0<\/span>Kent and Medway Medical School<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and Academic Co-Director of\u00a0<\/span>Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries<\/span><\/a>, with support from:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n