Research Area
Collective intelligence and health systems
How can health systems use knowledge distributed across clinicians and communities? We study expert judgment, information aggregation, incentives, and digital workflows in resource-constrained settings.
Overview
The digital transformation of healthcare creates both opportunities and challenges. Our research examines how digital technologies—from telemedicine to health information systems to collective intelligence platforms—can improve health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.
Key areas of investigation include:
- Telemedicine & virtual care: Evaluating the effectiveness, equity, and optimal implementation of telehealth services
- Health information systems: Studying how data flows, EHR design, and interoperability affect care quality
- Collective intelligence: Exploring how aggregating clinical judgment can improve diagnostic accuracy
- Digital health equity: Ensuring digital health innovations benefit all populations, including those with limited digital access
- Community health digitization: Supporting community-based organizations in adopting digital health tools
Active Projects
Local clinical knowledge for AI
With Gillings Innovation Lab support, we study how structured feedback from clinicians can improve AI-generated cases. Daktari-DX is the interface clinicians use to review those cases and contribute local clinical knowledge.
Active research. Gillings Innovation Lab (GIL) is the funder; Daktari-DX is the clinician-facing interface. No model has demonstrated clinical effectiveness. GIL, RLEF Data Generation, and Daktari-DX are related but not interchangeable names.
Collective intelligence for curbside consultation
Our NIH NIMHD-funded Phase I STTR project develops and evaluates asynchronous peer consultation for rural clinicians. The research examines rapid skill assessment, selection of relevant reviewers, and aggregation of independent judgments, alongside feasibility and workflow fit. Clinical effectiveness remains to be established.
Phase I, newly awarded. Never state diagnostic superiority, completed clinical validation, or a broadly available clinical service.
Related Publications
View all publicationsEpidemiology, causes, clinical manifestation and diagnosis, prevention and control of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the early outbreak period: a scoping review
Adhikari, S. P., Meng, S., Wu, Yuju, Mao, Yu-Ping, Ye, R., Wang, Qingzhi, Sun, Chang, Sylvia, Sean Yuji, Rozelle, S., Raat, H., Zhou, Huan (2020)
Infectious Diseases of Poverty
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-020-00646-xViolence against health care workers in China, 2013–2016: evidence from the national judgment documents
Cai, Ruilie, Tang, Ji, Deng, Chenhui, Lv, Guofan, Xu, Xiaohe, Sylvia, Sean Yuji, Pan, Jay (2019)
Human Resources for Health
DOI: 10.1186/s12960-019-0440-yEffect of the mHealth-supported Healthy Future programme delivered by community health workers on maternal and child health in rural China: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Chen, Yunwei, Wu, Yuju, Dill, Sarah-Eve, Guo, Yian, Westgard, C., Medina, Alexis, Weber, A., Darmstadt, G., Zhou, Huan, Rozelle, S., Sylvia, Sean Yuji (2023)
BMJ Open
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065403Primary Care Quality and Inappropriate Community Antibiotic Use: A Double Machine Learning Instrumental Variable Approach
Chen, Y., Yi, H., Rao, S., Weber, A., Hassmiller-Lich, K., Sylvia, Sean Yuji (2026)
medRxiv
DOI: 10.64898/2026.08.26.26361459Evaluation of a Village-Based Digital Health Kiosks Program: Evidence from Two Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trials
Cheng, Fei, Yip, Winnie, Zhu, Yue, Sylvia, Sean (2022)
Health Policy and Planning
DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czac072Evaluation of a village-based digital health kiosks program: A protocol for a cluster randomized clinical trial
Cheng, Weibin, Zhang, Z., Hoelzer, Samantha, Tang, Weiming, Liang, Yizhi, Du, Yumeng, Xue, Hao, Zhou, Qiru, Yip, W., Ma, Xiaochen, Tian, Junzhang, Sylvia, Sean Yuji (2022)
Digital Health
DOI: 10.1177/20552076221129100Innovative Approaches of Measuring Care Quality in China's Market for Telemedicine
Cheng, Fei, Zeng, Tongxin, Sylvia, Sean, Chen, Xi (2024)
China Economic Review
DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102320A healthy future for young children in rural China: evaluating a community health worker program to improve maternal, newborn and child health
Dill, Sarah-Eve, Sylvia, Sean Yuji (2021)
http://isrctn.com/
DOI: 10.1186/isrctn16800789Tools & Platforms
CareLoom (Healthy Future)
Open-source platform for community health workers delivering maternal and child health home visiting programs. AI-enhanced content recommendations are planned.
Sentinel Information Markets
Research platform for information-market-based participatory surveillance. A Ghana pilot examined feasibility and acceptability for COVID-19 monitoring; the Kenya extension is paused. Not a live surveillance service.
Community Partners
Our digital health transformation research is grounded in partnerships with community organizations working to improve health in underserved populations.
Partner With Us
We work with community organizations, health systems, and technology partners to advance digital health innovation that benefits all communities.