Dr Ivan Bindoff is a computer scientist specialising in eHealth – the application of technical solutions to address health challenges.

Working in the Pharmacy Division of the School of Medicine, Dr Bindoff’s current focus is research into the use of simulations and game-play in the education of health professionals.

He has developed a novel 3D learning experience (https://www.pharmacysim.com) which helps to prepare students to go out into the workforce and face real-life situations. Traditionally, students were prepared for professional activities by doing paper-based or role-play scenarios in the classroom. Although these traditional approaches are highly valued by students, it has remained difficult to deliver enough of these exercises at the level of detail required to satisfy the needs of either student or teacher.

In contrast, Dr Bindoff says, ‘Pharmacy Simulator offers a true-to-life environment where clients may be suffering, confused, angry or have communication difficulties, and where the actions of the pharmacist have immediate consequences.’

Furthermore, the simulator also allows students to try again and again in their own time, either in the classroom, at home, or even using a smart phone. All without any further cost.

Through a start-up company (Imitated Environments Pty Ltd), Dr Bindoff is licensing the intellectual property to institutions, with considerable interest both nationally and around the world. ‘This is a great example of progress from research and discovery to impact in the real world,’ Dr Bindoff says.

The longer-term plan is to expand the application of the technology into other areas of education in the health sector and beyond. ‘The technology is content-agnostic; it enables almost anyone to write and deliver novel simulation-based teaching materials to students.’

Dr Bindoff’s work builds on his career developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to help pharmacists in the performance of their duties. For example, he developed AI, which is now commercially available, that assists pharmacists to conduct medication reviews of patients. It helps the pharmacist manage the huge amount of data, including individual patient information, in order to identify potential drug-interactions, medications that are no longer needed and other complicated problems.

He also developed Quittr, an innovative app aimed at helping people stop smoking. Other quit-smoking apps are limited: they allow smokers to log their cigarette use, gives them information about their progress, and offers tips. Quittr has the additional feature of motivational factors, such as rewards for achieving milestones that provide tangible advantages in a fully integrated game experience.

‘As a model, this kind of approach can be applied to a whole range of behavioural health factors such as diet and physical activity.’

Dr Bindoff is part of the Pharmacy Division’s Unit for Medications Outcome Research and Education (UMORE), a world-renowned leader in collaborative research into improving medication-related outcomes for patients. In this capacity, he contributes to the delivery of Medicines Australia’s continuing education program for members of the pharmaceutical profession, specifically in the area of understanding clinical evidence.

‘As a computer scientist, it is great to have the opportunity to do work that is challenging and exciting and delivers real benefits to society,’ Dr Bindoff says.