From a migraine app to international research: IT expertise from Hof is now supporting medical research at the highest level. What began as an innovative project has evolved into an integral part of modern medical research: The Institute for Information Systems (iisys) at Hof University of Applied Sciences is successfully applying its expertise in data analysis and computer science to medical research projects.
As early as 2011, the “Migraine Radar” attracted attention—not only within the university but also nationwide. The project, which was featured multiple times on television and in other national media, served as the starting point for a rapidly growing network spanning computer science and medicine. Through this initiative, Prof. Dr. Jörg Scheidt and Prof. Dr. Dirk Reinel and their team at the Institute for Information Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (iisys) established contacts with leading headache experts, which led to numerous joint research projects in the following years. “The Migraine Radar was a door opener for us into medical research,” explains Prof. Dr. Jörg Scheidt. And Prof. Dr. Dirk Reinel adds: “This allowed us to build trust and establish long-term collaborations.”
A Key Project: The Headache Registry
Today, the nationwide headache registry of the German Migraine and Headache Society ranks among the most significant collaborations. Together with medical institutions such as the LMU Munich Medical Center and the spin-off smartlytic GmbH, iisys is working on the systematic collection and analysis of anonymized patient data. One goal of the registry is to create a comprehensive database for scientific analysis. This enables new insights to be gained regarding disease progression, therapies, and drug effects. An interdisciplinary steering committee decides on the use of the data—both for internal research questions and for external inquiries, such as those from the pharmaceutical industry.
“Our task is to process and analyze the data in such a way that it yields reliable scientific findings.”
Prof. Dr. Jörg Scheidt
Hof provides the data analysis
Through the statistical analysis of the extensive datasets in close collaboration with LMU, scientific publications are also produced that now appear regularly in internationally renowned journals—including “Cephalalgia,” “The Journal of Headache and Pain,” and “Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.” “Another paper on so-called ‘weekend migraine’ has recently been accepted for publication—an example of how practical questions become understandable and tangible through data-driven research,” says Prof. Dr. Jörg Scheidt.
Research with Social Relevance
In addition to headache research, iisys is also involved in other medical projects. One example is the SaVeBRAIN.Kids study led by the University Hospital Essen. This study focuses on the care of children with mild traumatic brain injuries—a topic of great societal importance. In this project as well, iisys contributes its expertise in software development and data management, helping to advance evidence-based medical care.
“What has emerged here in recent years impressively demonstrates how effective interdisciplinary collaboration can be. Through their work, our researchers are making an important contribution to answering medical questions based on data—and thereby improving healthcare in a sustainable way.”
Prof. Dr. René Peinl, Director of the Institute for Information Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (iisys)
