New Scientist Specializing in Smart Health Technology Joins Health Research Institute and Lakehead University

The research community in Thunder Bay continues to grow with the arrival of another new scientist.

Dr. Zubair Fadlullah is the newest scientist to join the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute as a Lakehead University-Health Research Institute Research Chair. Dr. Fadlullah will be responsible for conducting a research program related to Smart Health Technology and will be affiliated with Lakehead University’s Department of Computer Science.

The Lakehead University-Health Research Institute Research Chair in Smart Health Technology will develop, evaluate, and translate knowledge related to smart health technology research. Smart health technology consists of software and mobile technology as well as integrated hardware such as smart phones and sensors that advance health. It is expected that research outcomes in this area will result in more and faster access to health services, such as early detection, real time monitoring, standardized treatment, interactive self-help, and more, in rural and remote communities in Northwestern Ontario.

Dr. Fadlullah comes to Thunder Bay from Tohoku University in Japan, where he has been serving as an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Information Sciences (GSIS). He completed his Ph.D. in Applied Information Sciences from GSIS in March, 2011. His research interests and expertise revolve around the Internet-of-Things (IoT), Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based communication, deep learning applications for 4G/5G network traffic control systems, wireless and mobile ad hoc networking, game theory based solutions for networks, and network security.

“Dr. Fadlullah’s expertise will support a growing clinical research cluster that is exploring solutions to regional health care challenges – solutions that often have global applications,” said Jean Bartkowiak, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and CEO of the Health Research Institute. “We’re also proud to collaborate with Lakehead University and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine to recruit bright scientific talent, foster a collaborative research environment, and strengthen our patient-centred research program.”

“The Lakehead University-Health Research Institute Research Chairs program is an excellent example of collaboration that provides the best research environment for emerging scholars. Dr. Fadlullah will be joining a vibrant community of researchers who are engaged in the discovery of new methods and health care technologies,” said Dr. Andrew Dean, Vice President, Research and Innovation at Lakehead University. “This has been a priority for the Health Research Institute and Lakehead University, and the Thunder Bay region. Dr. Fadlullah will help to further improve health outcomes for people in Northwestern Ontario through fundamental and applied research. Dr. Fadlullah will also provide expertise for training of the next generation of scientists in this area.”

The arrival of Dr. Fadlullah is part of the Health Research Institute’s plan to recruit three new scientists in radiochemistry, biophysics, and smart health technology. The positions, which involve joint appointments at Lakehead University, will build on the Health Research Institute’s strengths and prepare for a new era of health care, particularly in relation to health technology in remote regions and addressing the Indigenous population’s health disparities.