Dr Padmanesan Narasimhan

Keywords

digital health

artificial intelligence

clinical medicine

emergency department

culturally and linguistically diverse (cald)

machine learning

Fields of Research (FoR)

Public Health and Health Services, Infectious Diseases, Health Information Systems (incl. Surveillance)

SEO tags

Public health not elsewhere classified

Infectious Diseases

Biography

Research areas

Digital Health Interventions
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Health Systems and Informatics
AI in Public Health

Research areas

Digital Health Interventions
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Health Systems and Informatics
AI in Public Health

Dr. Padmanesan Narasimhan is a Clinician and Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) with extensive expertise in digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare. His research focuses on leveraging technological innovations to address pressing global health challenges, particularly in the context of infectious diseases like tuberculosis and the management of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension. Dr. Narasimhan has a strong publication record in leading journals, exploring areas such as the perceptions of AI in radiology among medical professionals, the role of informal healthcare providers in tuberculosis care, and the effectiveness of mobile phone interventions for blood pressure control. He is also actively involved in higher degree research supervision, guiding PhD candidates in projects related to conversational chatbots in emergency department triage and AI-enabled chatbots in healthcare settings

Beyond his academic appointments, Dr. Narasimhan is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health and has held significant roles such as Assistant Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for eHealth at UNSW. His commitment to advancing digital health is further evidenced by his success in securing competitive grant funding as a CIA, including a recent NHMRC IDEAS Grant for a national research initiative. Dr. Narasimhan's work extends to international collaborations, providing expertise and training in digital health and epidemiology in various global settings. His contributions highlight a dedication to innovative research and its practical application in improving health outcomes globally.

Research Areas

Digital Health Interventions
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Health Systems and Informatics
AI in Public Health

My Grants

NHMRC IDEAS Grant, focuses on developing TRIBOT, an AI-powered conversational chatbot to streamline triage in emergency departments- Lead CI

My Qualifications

MBBS

AMC

MPH (UNSW)

PhD (UNSW)

Grad Cert.Univ. Learning and Teaching (UNSW)

FIADH

My Awards

NIH, USA- Fogarty Ellison Fellow (2005)

UNSW Medicine Prize- Outstanding International Advancement (2016)

PLuS Alliance Fellow (2019-2022)

Fellow, Australasian Institute of Digital Health (2025-)

My Research Activities

Conversational AI for Emergency Department Triage (AI TRIBOT Study): This pioneering project, funded by an NHMRC IDEAS Grant, focuses on developing TRIBOT, an AI-powered conversational chatbot to streamline triage in emergency departments. TRIBOT integrates natural language processing with clinical triage protocols to enhance real-time decision-making and optimize patient flow, serving as a cutting-edge digital front-door strategy for acute care services.
AI-Based Epidemic Preparedness (EPIWATCH): As Co-Investigator and India Lead on EPIWATCH, Dr. Narasimhan is involved in this globally recognized AI-driven platform for early detection of infectious disease outbreaks. Utilizing machine learning and big data analytics, EPIWATCH provides predictive epidemic intelligence, facilitating a shift from reactive to proactive public health surveillance, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This project has secured $5.3 million in funding from the SHIBU OS INT Initiative.
Integrating Informal Healthcare Providers via Digital Platforms: This project is dedicated to improving healthcare delivery in low-resource settings by digitally connecting informal and formal healthcare providers. It strengthens referral pathways, diagnosis accuracy, and continuity of care in underserved communities through interoperable platforms and training. Dr. Narasimhan's passion for health systems strengthening and digital health integration was ignited during his early career providing care for HIV/AIDS patients in India.