PAIR Seminar: Prof. Alex MIHAILIDIS of University of Toronto delivers "Supporting and Rehabilitating Older Adults through AgeTech: From Prevention to Personalised Care"
PAIR Seminar Series
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Date
26 Nov 2025
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Organiser
PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
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Time
14:30 - 16:00
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Venue
Senate Room, M1603, 16/F Li Ka Shing Tower, PolyU (Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis)
Speaker
Prof. Alex MIHAILIDIS
Enquiry
PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research info.pair@polyu.edu.hk
Summary
Abstract
As populations age, rehabilitation must advance beyond episodic, recovery-focused care toward a personalized, proactive, and technology-enabled continuum that supports prevention, maintenance, and independence. This presentation highlights emerging AgeTech innovations—from embedded fall-detection and safety sensors, to intelligent reminder systems that reduce caregiver burden, to AI-driven predictive models that help identify which older adults are most likely to benefit from specific technologies. Drawing on practical use cases and early machine-learning insights, the session illustrates how integrated data, user-centred design, and systems-level approaches can shift rehabilitation from reactive to anticipatory. The presentation also introduces the AgeTech Futures Institute, an independent think tank advancing global policy, education, and partnerships to scale equitable, human-centred innovation. Together, these efforts outline a path toward a more responsive and empowering future of aging—one where technology complements, rather than replaces, care and supports older adults in leading healthier, more connected lives.
Professor Alex MIHAILIDIS
Associate Vice-President, International Partnerships, University of Toronto
Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
Scientific Director, AGE-WELL Network, Centres of Excellence
Chairman, International Advisory Committee of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Professor MIHAILIDIS holds the position of Associate Vice-President for International Partnerships at the University of Toronto, in addition to being the Scientific Director of the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence. His work primarily involves developing new technologies and services for the elderly. He also serves as a Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Biomedical Engineering, and holds a cross appointment in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto.
With a research career spanning 17 years, Professor MIHAILIDIS has made significant contributions to the field of technology for older adults, with over 200 publications including journal papers, conference papers, and abstracts. He is also an active member of the rehabilitation engineering profession, having served as the Past-President for RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America). In 2014, he was honoured as a Fellow of RESNA, one of the highest recognitions in this field of research and practice. In 2021, he was named a Fellow in the Canadian Academy of Health Science (CAHS) for his contributions to the health and well-being of older Canadians.
Professor MIHAILIDIS's academic journey includes a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1996, a M.A.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from the same university in 1998, and a PhD in Bioengineering (Rehabilitation Engineering) from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland in 2002.
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