A UNIVERSITY of Dundee project using artificial intelligence to identify heart failure patients who may be on outdated medication has won a national award for innovation.
The research, led by Dr Ify Mordi and PhD student Dr Mya Win from the university’s Faculty of Health, uses machine learning to analyse patient health records and flag cases where newer treatments could produce better outcomes.
The project was developed in partnership with Edinburgh-based firm Red Star AI Ltd, and won the Trailblazing AI Collaboration category at this year’s Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards, held at the Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Heart failure affects around 920,000 people in the UK, causing symptoms including breathlessness and fluid retention, and significantly increasing the risk of hospitalisation.
The condition has seen considerable advances in drug treatment in recent years, but the Dundee team found that many patients diagnosed before those advances may still be receiving older, less effective treatment.
“We know that many patients who were diagnosed before these advances may still be on outdated treatments that are not optimal for them,” Dr Mordi said.
“However, we also know that many patients who were diagnosed before these advances may still be on outdated treatments that are not optimal for them.
“This work has proven that AI can identify the most effective medication, allowing patients to live their lives to their full potential.
“Winning this award is a tremendous achievement and I thank everyone at the University and at Red Star AI for their support and endeavour in bringing this project to fruition.”
The Trailblazing AI Collaborations category is new to the awards this year, introduced in partnership with national innovation centre to recognise partnerships pushing the boundaries of Scotland’s data and AI sector.
Helen Cross, director of investment and research at the Scottish Funding Council, said: “These awards shine a light on the impressive collaborations that power Scotland’s innovation ecosystem and today’s winners show just how transformative those partnerships can be.
“Bringing together the strength of Scotland’s academic base and combining that knowledge with the expertise of Scottish industry is hugely important in innovating for the future.”
The awards, organised by Interface and now in their 11th year, celebrate collaborations between business, the third sector, public sector organisations and academia that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits for Scotland.
Ross Chalmers is a journalist focusing on local Edinburgh news, transport, the environment, the arts, and housing.
He graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in journalism in Summer 2025 and began working at Deadline News as a reporter in August.
