Cutting-edge digital health project launches with St Andrews at the forefront
The University of St Andrews is one of five research centres[1] leading the €6.8 million SUMIT project (Substance Use and Mental Health Interventions using Digital Technology), launched at the end of May. Led by Queens University Belfast and funded by the EU’s PEACEPLUS [2] programme, SUMIT aims to improve access to care for people facing substance use and mental health challenges across Northern Ireland and Ireland. Over a period of four years, the project team will develop three new digital products to complement the countries’ existing health and social care services.
At the heart of St Andrews’ contribution is DigitAS (Digital Health Interventions in Addiction Sciences), based in the School of Medicine’s Baldacchino Lab for Addiction Medicine. The DigitAS team [3] specialises in generating real-world evidence to guide the design, adoption, and equitable scale-up of digital addiction healthcare interventions.
In collaboration with partner organisations and communities across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland, DigitAS researchers will develop and evaluate new digital approaches to reducing barriers and enhancing engagement with addiction treatment, care, and support.
Specifically, DigitAS will:
- Design and apply implementation methods to support the adoption and scaling of SUMIT’s new digital products within existing addiction services. This will include defining the scope, inclusion criteria, goals and outcomes of these interventions in consultation with local system leaders.
- Develop and deliver the SUMIT Digital Implementation Guide, applying implementation science to build and evaluate a scalable, cross-border model that supports recovery and reduces pressure on services.
- Foster networks among NHS Fife and Irish and Northern Irish service providers to accelerate local implementation that is responsive to community needs.
Reflecting on the project launch, Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry and Addictions Alexander Baldacchino said, “We are delighted to collaborate with partners across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland to develop digital solutions that improve care for people affected by addiction and mental health challenges.
This EU-funded initiative will help close treatment gaps by accelerating the innovation of digital tools that will transform health and social care delivery.
Through this international partnership, we aim to ensure our research delivers real-world impact: helping to make services more responsive, sustainable, and inclusive across the island of Ireland and beyond.”
[1] The SUMIT project lead partners are: Queens University Belfast (Lead), University of St Andrews, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), University of Strathclyde (Digital Heath and Care Innovation Centre DHI), and Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
[2] SUMIT is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
[3] Professor Alexander Baldacchino, Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry and Addiction; Dr Joe Tay Wee Teck, Honorary Lecturer; Dr Susanna Galea-Singer, Honorary Senior Lecturer; Dr Nina MacKenzie, PhD Fellow; Mr Joe Schofield, PhD student and DigitAS Research Fellow; and Sophie Given, PhD Student.