Mr Yashik Singh, a summa cum laude Master’s graduate in Medical Informatics is spearheading research for his PhD into creating an HIV treatment management tool.  This tool includes forecasting changes in the HI virus which would affect resistance of the virus to certain drugs, forecasting changes in the CD4 count of HIV-1 patients, and an integrated interpretation algorithm within an electronic medical record system. The study titled, “A Physician Administered Artificial Intelligence Based Decision Support System Tool that Facilitates the Management of Patients on Anti-retroviral Therapy”, is conducted using artificial intelligence.

Singh’s pioneering research in this field integrates several computer software packages with existing medical records to determine resistance of the virus to several drugs. Whilst this assessment is done through artificial intelligence, the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital phenotypically measures blood samples of HIV positive patients to see if they get the same results. The Hospital uses interpretation algorithms which Singh believes can be improved. Results obtained from Singh’s study indicate that the algorithms he developed are more accurate than current interpretation algorithms including those created at Stanford University in the United States.

Data sets are obtained from internationally standard 20 to 30 000 data elements. The data includes several genome sub-types which are culturally specific. The aim of the study is to produce a stand-alone computer system (a virtual clinic) that can be accessed by any physician internationally. Physicians would enter key data pertaining to a patient and receive advice generated by bioinformatics and artificial intelligence algorithms.

Through usage of the system, Singh believes that physicians would be able to predetermine how their patients would react to various medications over several different time frames. This would assist in providing the most effective medication based on individual results.

Singh’s supervisor, Professor Maurice Mars said that Singh turned down an offer from Stanford University in order to pursue his PhD at UKZN. Singh said: ‘It’s a lot better to be physically located in a developing world when conducting this study, as one understands the needs of the community much better. There is more work to be done here in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal and we have the expertise here in the Department of Tele-health.’