Melbourne – October 19, 2026 -- Helfie AI and UK-based Health Innovation South West have launched a partnership to evaluate smartphone-based hypertension screening in real-world healthcare settings, with a focus on people who face barriers to conventional care.
Partners will test digital screening for earlier detection of high blood pressure
The programme will assess whether smartphone-enabled screening can identify people at risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease earlier. Hypertension remains one of the leading modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease, yet many people go undiagnosed until they develop serious health problems.
Helfie supplies the screening technology. Health Innovation South West contributes its expertise in implementation and evaluation. Together they will examine how the screening can be built into existing healthcare pathways, targeting underserved and hard-to-reach populations. Findings will feed into the evidence base for prevention and population health approaches.
Helfie AI part-funds the evaluation of its own platform
Helfie AI has part-funded the project, including work to evaluate the impact of adding its platform to cardiovascular disease prevention pathways. Health Innovation South West stated that the outputs should not be read as an endorsement, recommendation or procurement guidance for any specific product, technology or manufacturer.
Helfie's platform offers more than 30 smartphone-based health checks. Rania Awad, Chief Strategy Officer at Helfie AI, said: "Prevention only works if it reaches people where they are."
Christelle Kelley, Population Health Lead at Helfie AI, said the aim is to identify and support more people at risk of hypertension and to turn that opportunity into equitable improvements in cardiovascular health.