Synapxe launches improved HealthX Innovation Sandbox

Following up on its success with its HealthX Innovation Sandbox, Singapore’s national HeathTech agency, Synapxe, has launched the HealthX Innovation Sandbox 2.0 (HX-IS 2.0).

Launching the improved sandbox at this year’s HealthTechX Asia, Synapxe said the initiative aimed to provide more opportunities for HealthTech start-ups and innovators to experiment and develop emerging healthcare technologies with improved access to data and multi-cloud infrastructure.

Since the launch of the HealthX Sandbox 1.0 in September 2023, several new HealthTech innovations use cases across artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI (GenAI) and 3D imaging technology have been deployed on the sandbox on AWS cloud.

Five use cases are now in discussion with public healthcare institutions to be piloted.

Synapxe’s Director of Innovation Capabilities Enablement, Glenn Neo, noted that the key difference between Sandbox 1.0 and 2.0 was in its richer technological features.

While Sandbox 1.0 was scoped to AWS as the primary cloud platform and had a limited number of application programming interfaces (APIs), Sandbox 2.0 has significantly broadened its scope by incorporating Microsoft Azure as an additional cloud platform.

At the same time, Synapxe has extended its collaboration with AWS to continue offering AWS technologies and training programmes.

Access to 2,300 APIs

Developers would also be able to access over 2,300 healthcare APIs to create interoperable solutions that are based on the Health Level Seven Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (HL7 FHIR) for modern API driven development and healthcare data exchange.

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Neo noted that Sandbox 2.0 had introduced a synthetic data generation service provided by Health Empowerment through Advanced Learning & Intelligent eXchange (HEALIX) on AWS, Singapore’s first comprehensive cloud-based analytics platform for the entire public healthcare sector.

This service produces synthetic data that closely resembles real data, tailored for specific solutions, while ensuring that the data is anonymised.

The HX-IS 2.0 is the only HealthTech Sandbox that leverages Singapore’s Healthcare Commercial Cloud (HCC), allowing tech startups a safe environment to demonstrate, test and validate various solutions for public healthcare.

The updated sandbox now supports a wider range of integration points, including sensory systems, off-site systems, and innovation platforms from startups.

This evolution represented a more comprehensive approach to helping health tech developers experiment, identify potential issues, and prepare for real-world deployment.

There is now a greater emphasis on creating near-production testing experiences that were not possible in the original sandbox version, Neo said.

A new feature of HX-IS 2.0 was that tech innovators would have access to Microsoft cloud infrastructure and funding, including the opportunity to apply for Azure Trial Passes and Azure sponsorship credits to their proof-of-concept projects.

The passes will provide easy access to various Azure Services, Github, Azure Copilot and Azure OpenAI Service as the platform to develop their next AI application.

By leveraging Microsoft Azure, developers can access a robust cloud platform that supports rapid development, deployment, and validation of innovative HealthTech applications.

New heath tech innovations

Synapxe said 11 new health tech innovations across AI, GenAI and 3D imaging have been deployed in the first sandbox since September 2023.

A new 3D gait analysis system was being developed in partnership with HealthTech startup Carecam and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

The system is currently under evaluation, and it employs an iPad and AI to scientifically analyse gait biomechanics to detect potential mobility issues.

This application is presently being tested at TTSH, and used to monitor the rehabilitation recovery progress of stroke patients, according to Sypanxe.

In another project, National Healthcare Group Eye Institute (NHGEI), together with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), was working with Synapxe to streamline how visual acuity tests are performed in the eye clinic.

An AI-enabled cloud-based visual acuity test was being developed, harnessing speech-to-text and pose-estimation capabilities. This is designed to alleviate the workload of healthcare professionals and reduce the waiting time of eye patients in the clinic.

Syanpxe also shared that it has partnered with HealthTech start-up, Us2.ai, to successfully test an AI-powered echocardiography tool that analyses 2D and Doppler echocardiogram images to provide comprehensive cardiac measurements.

This application aligns with international guidelines, streamlines workflow processes and enables early diagnosis of heart failure. Us2.ai is now progressing to the next stage of discussions for adoption with respective healthcare entities.

Microsoft Singapore’s Public Sector Lead, Wong Sook Huey, noted that technology and AI have “incredible potential to revolutionise healthcare”, from making groundbreaking discoveries to delivering a more personalised patient experience.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Synapxe to allow local HealthTech innovators to develop, deploy, and validate their transformative solutions even faster by using Microsoft Azure and AI platforms,” she added.

AWS Singapore’s Worldwide Public Sector Country Leader, Elsie Tan, said AWS was “excited to be a pioneer partner of the HealthX Innovation Sandbox, helping to bring multiple new innovative healthcare solutions from genesis to pilot”.

She added that her company’s “expanded collaboration with Synapxe for Sandbox 2.0” would enable healthcare innovators to leverage AWS technologies.