Ian Buchan will head up the healthcare division at Microsoft Research CREDIT: MICROSOFT

The computer giant has created the division as part of its commitment to “transform healthcare” using technologies such as machine learning and cloud computing.

Its research plans ­include monitoring systems that can help keep patients out of hospitals and alert them in a timely manner about problems, and large studies into ­diseases such as diabetes.

Microsoft has hired researcher Iain Buchan, formerly clinical professor in public health informatics at the ­University of Manchester, to lead the healthcare research division. A trained doctor and data scientist, he has ­researched how data can improve healthcare for the past 25 years in ­clinical and academic settings.   

Mr Buchan said the team’s ­research could include developing predictive analytic tools, and personal health information systems, as well as using AI to ­target interventions.