A Macquarie University researcher has secured more than $4.4 million in federal funding to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) platform aimed at improving medication safety in residential aged care.
Dr Nasir Wabe, from the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, has received $4,468,310 through the Medical Research Future Fund’s Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant Opportunity to lead a five-year project focused on AI-supported deprescribing.
The project will harness AI technology to reduce the unnecessary use of medications in aged care settings, where polypharmacy – the use of multiple medications—is a persistent and complex challenge.
“With the vast amount of electronic data available in aged care, AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to enhance medication safety.”
Dr Nasir Wabe
His project will develop, implement and evaluate an AI-augmented platform designed to support clinicians in identifying, tailoring, and monitoring deprescribing plans for aged care residents. Deprescribing involves the supervised reduction or cessation of medicines that are no longer needed or could be causing harm.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Sakkie Pretorius said the research has the potential to significantly improve care outcomes for older Australians.
“AI technology offers a promising way to address the challenges of deprescribing in aged care, helping clinicians make better-informed decisions for the wellbeing of their residents,” Prof Pretorius said.
Dr Wabe’s work brings together a national network of aged care providers and researchers from leading institutions, including the University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University, University of Queensland, University of Adelaide, University of Sydney, and University of Technology Sydney.
Aged care partners include BESTMED, Choice Aged Care, Anglicare, Regis Aged Care, and Southern Cross Care NSW & ACT, along with key industry bodies such as the Australian Deprescribing Network, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and the Australian Association of Gerontology.
Choice Aged Care CEO Michael Bonner shared, “As Australia’s largest credentialed pharmacist service provider, we’re excited by the potential of this platform to deliver a technological leap forward in tackling the stubborn problem of polypharmacy.”
“An AI-augmented platform that identifies opportunities for safer medication management will set new standards for scalable, technology-driven and pharmacist-led clinical support in residential aged care,” Mr Bonner added.
The project aims to integrate AI into routine aged care workflows to bridge communication gaps, support clinical decisions, and provide personalised, data-driven insights – ultimately improving the safety and quality of life for aged care residents.
