Kurse Digital Health Interventions

11,208,1.00 Digital Biomarker Development  

Course Website

A digital biomarker is quantifiable and objective behavioral or physiological data collected through digital devices. Digital biomarkers explain and predict health‑related outcomes and can be classified depending on their purpose (e.g., risk, diagnostic, monitoring,  prognostic, predictive, or response biomarkers). They can be gathered continuously and non‑invasively, providing valuable insights into an individualʹs health status. Digital biomarkers can revolutionize healthcare by enabling remote monitoring, personalized, just‑in‑time adaptive interventions (e.g., digital therapeutics), and early detection of diseases.

Course prerequisites

Interest in the multi‑disciplinary field of digital biomarkers at the intersection of health economics, information systems research, computer science, and medicine.

Learning objectives

After the course, students will be able to...

1. understand the relevance of digital biomarkers for the prevention, management, and treatment of disease
2. understand several classes of digital biomarkers
3. know how to design and evaluate digital biomarkers
4. know digital health technologies used for digital biomarker development
5. assess data of a digital biomarker study in the area of metabolic health
6. propose digital biomarkers for healthy longevity (e.g., biological age)
7. discuss the advantages and disadvantages of digital biomarkers

The lecture is structured in three parts, with on‑site sessions and complementary online exercises. In the first part, an overview of digital biomarkers is provided. In the second part, a controlled laboratory experiment is conducted with the course participants to develop a digital biomarker in metabolic health. n the third part, students in groups will assess digital biomarker data and design a digital biomarker for healthy longevity, for example, determining biological age.

11,203,1.00 Digital Health Forum

Course Website

Digital health technologies (DHT) are used for preventing, managing, and treating disease. DHTs may leverage digital biomarkers, digital coaches and healthcare chatbots, telemedicine, mobile and wearable computing, self‑tracking, personalized medicine, connected health, smart homes, or smart cars.

Learning objectives

After the course, students will be able to...
1. understand the importance of DHTs for health care management
2. describe and understand a specific DHT
3. discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a specific DHT

The lecture is structured in three parts, with on‑site sessions, guest lectures, and complementary online exercises. In the first part, during a kick‑off session, an overview of Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) will be provided, and students in groups will pick or propose a specific DHT they will assess. In the second part, national and international experts from industry and academia will provide valuable input via guest lectures (primarily online via Zoom). Complementary learning material and multiple‑choicequestions are provided online. Moreover, coaching sessions are offered to support the students in preparing their presentations. In the third part, students will present and discuss the results with fellow students.

11,202,1.00 Digital Therapeutics

Course Website

Digital therapeutics (DTx) are software‑delivered interventions for managing and treating disease. DTx may leverage digital biomarkers, digital coaches and healthcare chatbots, telemedicine, mobile and wearable computing, self‑tracking, personalized medicine, connected health, smart homes, or smart cars.

Course prerequisites

Interest in the multi‑disciplinary field of Digital Health at the intersection of health economics, information systems research, computer science, and behavioral medicine.

Learning objectives

After the course, students will be able to...

1. understand the importance of DTx for the management of chronic conditions
2. understand the anatomy of DTx
3. know frameworks for the design of DTx
4. know evaluation criteria for DTx
5. know technologies for DTx
6. assess DTx
7. know about reimbursement strategies of DTx
8. discuss the advantages and disadvantages of DTx

The lecture is structured in two parts, with on‑site sessions and complementary online exercises. In the first part, students will learn and discuss the topics of the four learning modules in weekly on‑site sessions. In the second part, students work in teams and will use their acquired knowledge to assess DTx critically. 

10,167,1.00 Health Care Research Seminar Series
In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Alexander Geissler & Prof. Dr. Janna Hastings.

Course Website

This doctoral seminar consists of the preparation of the presentations as described in the facts sheet, the actual seminar, and the written peer review. The seminar takes place at a location outside the university. In‑person attendance is required. Ph.D. students with different backgrounds (e.g. economics, management, information systems, computer science, or medicine) are welcome.

PromO07: Doctoral colloquia can only be attended if the coursework stage has been successfully completed.

PromO016/O017: One doctoral colloquium can be attended prior to completion of the coursework stage. A second, respectively a third doctoral colloquium can only be attended if the coursework stage has been successfully completed. 

Vorlesung an der Universität Zürich

The following topics are covered:
1. DHIs for the prevention, management, and treatment of NCDs and CMDs
2. Strategies for long-term compliance with DHI
3. Conceptual design of a wearable- and smartphone-based DHI
4. Technical implementation of a wearable- and smartphone-based DHI
5. Evaluation of a wearable- and smartphone-based DHI

Kurse im Frühlingssemester / Unterrichtssprache Englisch

• know what a business model in digital health is
• can explain the elements of a business model in digital health
• understand specific aspects of business models in private/public health care systems
• can identify top‑funded companies providing digital health services
• can systematically assess the business models of companies providing digital health services 

• understand the importance of DTx for the management of chronic and mental conditions
• discuss the opportunities and challenges related to DTx
• better understand the design, implementation and evaluation of smartphone‑based and chatbot‑delivered DTx