Medicine, Technology, and Behavioral Science Collide at RSU Research Week Opening Plenary Session
Kickstarting the Future of Healthcare 🔬💼🚀
March 24 marked the beginning of Rīga Stradiņš University's (RSU) Research Week 2025, a testimony to groundbreaking research, technology, and the human touch in healthcare. RSU Rector Aigars Pētersons started off the event with a bang, followed by a warm welcome from Latvia's President, Edgars Rinkēvičs.
The President celebrated RSU's research prowess, praising its cross-disciplinary approach in fields such as healthcare, medicine, social sciences, and sports sciences. He emphasized the significance of human care, even as AI and technology revolutionize medicine. Artificial intelligence may offer numerous healthcare solutions, but it'll never replace the comfort of a caring hand to a distressed patient.
Ray of AI Hope 🤖🏥
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Bertalan Meskó, an expert in digital health and innovation from Hungary. Dr. Meskó believed AI won't replace doctors but empower them to serve better. He foretold a future of personalized healthcare, data-backed decisions, and digital health solutions. History is littered with examples of skepticism towards technological advancements in healthcare, yet they eventually became indispensable, he argued. Today, AI and wearable tech are no longer the future-they're here and now, redefining how we diagnose and treat patients.
RSU's Peak Moments and Europe's Research Landscape 🏆🌐
RSU Vice-Rector for Science, Agrita Kiopa spoke of the university's research accomplishments, particularly its tenured professorship program, solidifying RSU's position as a research powerhouse. During the conversation on Europe's research future, Assoc. Prof. Ivars Ijabs, Member of the European Parliament, stressed the importance of preserving Europe's research dominance in the face of increasing investment from the US and China.
Mind, Body, and Environment 🧠🏋️♂️♻️
Prof. Emeritus Romain Meeusen, an expert in sports physiology and physiotherapy from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, talked about the impact of physical activity on brain function and overall health. Not just exercise but responsible environmental choices can help delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and improve cognitive health. He shared research findings on the interplay between neurotransmitters, cognitive function, and physical activity, and delved into the latest trends in sports science.
Changing Behaviour for a Healthier You 👨⚕️💡
Prof. Susan Michie highlighted the role of behavioural science in healthcare. She unveiled research on behaviour change mechanisms and presented the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), a framework that focuses on capability, opportunity, and motivation-or the COM-B model. This approach is widely utilized in health promotion initiatives like smoking cessation and obesity control strategies.
The Opening Plenary Session brought together top international minds, researchers, and policymakers, underscoring the necessity of collaboration between medicine, technology, and behavioural science to propel healthcare innovation.
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References 1. RSU ISC 2025 program 2. RSU Rankings and Reputation
- The panel at Riga Stradins University's (RSU) Research Week 2025 highlighted the significance of integration between technology, medicine, and behavioral science in fostering a future of personalized healthcare.
- Dr. Bertalan Meskó emphasized the potential of AI to empower healthcare professionals, rather than replace them, and predicted a future of data-backed decisions and digital health solutions.
- Prof. Romain Meeusen discussed the role of physical activity and environmental choices in delaying Alzheimer's disease onset and improving cognitive health as part of the university's focus on education-and-self-development and health-and-wellness.
- The cross-disciplinary approach taken by RSU in fields such as science, medicine, and social sciences was praised by Latvia's President, Edgars Rinkēvičs, as a key factor in the university's research prowess.
