AIR4Health
Transformative Technologies for Healthcare and Environmental Resilience (TTHER)
ISPF Early Career FellowshipsUK – ASEAN Consortium
Transformative Technologies for Healthcare & Environmental Resilience
Hosted by Edinburgh Napier University and funded under the UK International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the British Council. TTHER empowers outstanding early-career research fellows from Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam to develop transformative solutions across artificial intelligence, robotics, assistive devices, and connected healthcare systems.
Funding Support
ISPF (International Science Partnerships Fund)
Providing strategic funding to support international research collaboration and innovation, delivered through the British Council and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Impact & Deliverables
Expected Project Outputs
Anchored in the UK International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) framework, the TTHER project targets high-impact expected deliverables across scientific discovery, open research infrastructure, early-career capacity building, translational technology, and bilateral UK–ASEAN collaboration (2024–2027):
Academic Dissemination
15+ Papers
15+ High-Impact Publications
Expected Milestone: 15+ Co-authored Q1 journal & conference papers
Expected co-authored research papers published across premier Q1 journals (IEEE Transactions, ACM, Elsevier) and top international conference proceedings, advancing AI-driven healthcare, biomedical robotics, and assistive technologies with open-access dissemination.
Open Science & Data
Open Datasets
Multimodal Sensor Datasets
Expected Milestone: Curated open-access multi-sensor repositories
Expected release of comprehensive benchmark datasets integrating wearable physiological telemetry (EMG, ECG, motion sensors), environmental metrics, and robotic kinematics to empower the international research community and advance reproducible healthcare AI.
Capacity Building
7 Fellows
7 ISPF Research Fellows Empowered
Expected Milestone: 7 early-career researchers completed UK residencies
7 outstanding early-career research fellows from Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam expected to complete bilateral research residencies at Edinburgh Napier University, receiving 1-on-1 mentorship, cross-disciplinary leadership training, and international research profile development.
Translational Engineering
4+ Prototypes
Healthcare AI & Robotic Prototypes
Expected Milestone: Clinically-viable proof-of-concept devices
Expected engineering and lab validation of functional translational prototypes, including soft robotic stroke rehabilitation gloves, smart elderly fall-prevention telemetry, autonomous hazard-navigation mobility, and distributed edge-AI patient monitoring tools.
Sustainability & Growth
Joint Grants
Joint Bilateral Research Grants
Expected Milestone: International grant applications beyond 2027
Expected submission of major joint multidisciplinary proposals to UKRI, Horizon Europe, British Council, and Southeast Asian national research funds (Thailand NSRF, Malaysia MOHE, Vietnam MOST) to establish enduring institutional consortia and sustained funding.
Knowledge Exchange
5+ Workshops
Bilateral Workshops & Knowledge Transfer
Expected Milestone: Regular bilateral symposia & stakeholder forums
Expected delivery of recurring bilateral mini-workshops, international research symposia, and clinical stakeholder roundtables across the UK and ASEAN, facilitating bidirectional technology transfer and responsible AI adoption in healthcare settings.
TTHER Activities & News
Latest workshops, academic exchanges, and research milestones from the TTHER project team.
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Research Workshop Brings Together Visiting Researchers to Explore International Collaboration at Edinburgh Napier University
8 October 2026 | Edinburgh Napier University The AI & Robotics for Healthcare Research Group at…
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8th TTHER Mini-Workshop Showcases Research Progress in AI, Robotics, and Digital Healthcare at Edinburgh Napier University
8 October 2026 | Edinburgh Napier University The AI & Robotics for Healthcare Research Group at…
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7th ISPF-TTHER Project Mini-Workshop
The 7th Project Mini-Workshop was held on 23 September 2026 at Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston Campus. The event brought project members…
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TTHER Project Explores International Collaboration and Joint Funding Opportunities
The TTHER Project at Edinburgh Napier University hosted a meeting focused on future research collaboration, potential joint projects, and…
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TTHER Project Hosts 6th Mini Workshop: Special Academic Talks and Knowledge-Sharing Sessions
The TTHER Project at Edinburgh Napier University hosted its 6th Mini Workshop, featuring a special academic exchange and knowledge-sharing…
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Dr. Naret Suyaroj, TTHER Project Researcher, participates in Erasmus+ Chef MetaLab Project Meeting in France
Dr. Naret Suyaroj, Research Fellow at Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom, and Lecturer at the International…
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Dr. Naret Suyaroj, TTHER Project Researcher, Receives Grand Prize at the Huawei ICT Competition 2025–2026 Global Final
Dr. Naret Suyaroj, Research Fellow at Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom, and Lecturer at the International…
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5th Mini-Workshop: ISPF Workshop
The 5th Mini-Workshop: ISPF Workshop will take place on Thursday, 11 June 2026, at MER F05. Activity Details Title: ISPF…
Strategic Alignment & Global Themes
The TTHER project is anchored in the International Science Partnerships Fund’s four major global pillars, translating multidisciplinary engineering into impactful real-world health and environmental solutions:
Healthy People, Animals & Plants
Researching biomedical robotics, automated falls prevention, and stroke rehabilitation to enhance patient mobility and quality of life.
Transformative Technologies
Deploying intelligent soft robotics, multi-modal sensor fusion, edge-AI computing, and IoT frameworks for decentralized healthcare.
Resilient Planet
Harnessing autonomous navigation, electric vehicles, and embedded sensor suites to tackle disaster response and environmental hazards.
Tomorrow’s Talent
Providing comprehensive UK-based research training, cross-border mentorship, and leadership development for Southeast Asian fellows.
Thematic Research Streams
The project brings together multidisciplinary teams across three overarching scientific streams comprising seven specialized research projects:
Stream 01
AI, Robotics & Assistive Healthcare
Project 1 · AI-Enabled Falls Prevention Device
Investigating wearable sensor fusion and biomechanical movement analysis to predict and prevent fall risks among elderly populations.
Project 2 · Exoskeleton Robots for Rehabilitation
Developing multistage adaptive lower-limb and upper-limb robotic exoskeletons tailored to personalized neurological recovery pathways.
Project 3 · Soft Robotic Stroke Rehabilitation
Designing compliant, pneumatically driven wearable soft actuators integrated with electromyography decoding for safe home-based motor therapy.
Stream 02
Smart Sensing, IoT & Wearable Telemetry
Project 4 · AI Body Area Networks for Patient Monitoring
Deploying ultra-low-power on-body sensor networks and edge intelligence algorithms for real-time telemetry and cardiovascular risk detection.
Project 5 · IoT Healthcare Ecosystem for Continuous Care
Architecting secure, fault-tolerant cloud-edge computing frameworks enabling seamless remote clinical surveillance and predictive alerts.
Stream 03
Environmental Resilience & Automated Response
Project 6 · Autonomous Electric Vehicles for Rescue
Creating robust robotic navigation, LiDAR mapping, and path planning systems for unmanned search and rescue in disaster-impacted zones.
Project 7 · Robotics & AI for Industry 5.0 in Healthcare
Investigating collaborative robot (cobot) safety, human-machine symbiosis, and automated logistics in sterile healthcare settings.
Host Leadership & Academic Mentors
Fellows are supervised and mentored by distinguished faculty and principal investigators at Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment:
Prof. Hongnian Yu
Professor of Robotics & Artificial Intelligence
Project Lead & Principal Investigator
Prof. Chan Hwang See
Professor of Communications & Sensing
Lead Mentor – Sensing & Connected Systems
Dr. Keng Goh
Associate Professor in Robotics & Control
Academic Mentor – Autonomous Robotics
Dr. Luigi La Spada
Associate Professor in Applied Electromagnetics
Academic Mentor – Antennas & Sensing
Dr. Libu Manjakkal
Associate Professor in Electronic Engineering
Academic Mentor – Wearables & Materials
Dr. Yuyang Zhou
Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
Academic Mentor – Machine Learning & Motion
ISPF Research Fellows
The TTHER project supports seven distinguished early-career researchers from Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam who lead research investigations at Edinburgh Napier University:
Dr. Arunee Promsri
Thailand · University of Phayao
Research FocusBiomechanics and Human Movement, Gait and Postural Control, Wearable Sensing, AI for Rehabilitation, and Healthy Ageing.
Dr. Naret Suyaroj
Thailand · Chiang Mai University
Research FocusElectrical Engineering, Energy Management, Internet of Things (IoT), Power Systems, and Intelligent Technologies.
Dr. Worawit Tepsan
Thailand · Chiang Mai University
Research FocusData Analytics and AI, Digital Health Innovation, Intelligent and Wearable Technologies, and Mathematics.
Dr. Ahmad Hakimi
Malaysia
Research FocusArtificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Wireless Sensor Networks, Indoor Positioning, and Intelligent 5G/6G Systems.
Dr. Ahsiah Binti Ismail
Malaysia · Int. Islamic University
Research FocusAI-Enabled Falls Prevention Device
(Trustworthy, Explainable and Safe AI for Healthy Ageing and Independent Living)
Dr. Muna Azuddin
Malaysia · Int. Islamic University
Research FocusHuman–Computer Interaction, User Experience, Emerging Technologies, Technology Adoption, and Digital Innovation.
Dr. Nhut-Thanh Tran
Vietnam · Can Tho University
Research FocusMachine Learning, Advanced Sensing, Spectroscopy, Machine Vision, and Biomedical Sensors.
Impact & Exchange
Advancing Global Health Innovation Together
“Through the ISPF Fellowship, early-career researchers conduct frontier research at Edinburgh Napier University, work with distinguished UK mentors, and build enduring bilateral networks that translate into real societal impact across the UK and ASEAN region.”
- Publish co-authored high-impact peer-reviewed journal papers and present at global conferences
- Develop clinically-viable healthcare technologies addressing urgent needs in aging and rehabilitation
- Create pathways for joint grant applications, patent filings, and long-term academic exchange