In my work as a journalist I am lucky enough to meet some brilliant people and learn about exciting advances in technology - along with a few duds. But every now and then I come across something that resonates in a deeply personal way. So it was in October 2018, when I visited a company called Medopad, based high up in London's Millbank Tower. This medical technology firm was working with the Chinese tech giant Tencent on a project to use artificial intelligence to diagnose Parkinson's Disease. This degenerative condition affects something like 10 million people worldwide.

In my work as a journalist I am lucky enough to meet some brilliant people and learn about exciting advances in technology - along with a few duds. But every now and then I come across something that resonates in a deeply personal way. So it was in October 2018, when I visited a company called Medopad, based high up in London's Millbank Tower. This medical technology firm was working with the Chinese tech giant Tencent on a project to use artificial intelligence to diagnose Parkinson's Disease. This degenerative condition affects something like 10 million people worldwide.

Medopad, the UK startup that has been working with Tencent to develop AI-based methods for building and tracking "digital" biomarkers -- measurable indicators of the progression of illnesses and diseases that are picked up not with blood samples or in-doctor visits but using apps and wearables, has announced another round of funding to expand the scope of its developments. It has picked up $25 million led by pharmaceuticals giant Bayer, which will be working together with Medopad to build digital biomarkers and therapeutics related to heart health. Medopad said it is also working on separate biomarkers related to Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Diabetes. The Series B is being made at a post-money valuation of between $200 million and $300 million. In addition to Bayer, Hong Kong firm NWS Holdings and Chicago VC Healthbox also participated.

China's Tencent Holdings is tying up with a technology firm from the United Kingdom called Medopad Ltd to use artificial intelligence for the purpose of improving Parkinson's disease treatment. The company is collaborating with Medopad to develop a system to remotely monitor patients with severe movement disorder. The company said that the basic goal is to allow doctors to set drug doses and modify care without patients having to go to the hospital. Healthcare is increasingly "not only about what happens in the clinic, but what happens in the real world", Wei Fan, Tencent's executive director for medical AI research said. "The reason we want to work with Medopad is they're experts in monitoring patients."

Chinese tech giant Tencent and London medical firm Medopad have teamed up to use artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. A camera captures the way patients move their hands to determine the severity of their symptoms. The research team has trained the system with existing videos of patients who have been assessed by doctors, working with King's College Hospital in London. "We use the AI to measure the deterioration of Parkinson's disease patients without the patient wearing any sensors or devices," explains Dr Wei Fan, head of the Tencent Medical AI lab. The aim is to speed up a motor function assessment process, which usually takes more than half an hour.

Chinese tech giant Tencent and London medical firm Medopad have teamed up to use artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. A camera captures the way patients move their hands to determine the severity of their symptoms. The research team has trained the system with existing videos of patients who have been assessed by doctors, working with King's College Hospital in London. "We use the AI to measure the deterioration of Parkinson's disease patients without the patient wearing any sensors or devices," explains Dr Wei Fan, head of the Tencent Medical AI lab. The aim is to speed up a motor function assessment process, which usually takes more than half an hour.

Artificial intelligence healthcare technology company Medopad has just landed $28 million in a Series A funding round with lead investments from China's NWS Holdings. But the company announced that its goal is to raise $120 million in the next few months. This funding comes after Medopad struck a series of 15 trade deals with Chinese firms, collectively worth more than $140 million (100 million pounds). Medopad was a member of the trade delegation that the UK recently sent to Beijing and Shanghai. "We now have several amazing strategic investors in the business, which is a great achievement for us as we gear for significant growth and scale our business," Dan Vahdat, CEO of Medopad, said in a statement.

The artificial intelligence (AI) healthcare startup Medopad has announced over £100m in trade deals with Chinese companies, including Tencent. Medopad's chief executive Dan Vahdat accompanied the UK prime minister Theresa May on a visit to China this week. Other business bosses visiting China with May included Jessica Butcher, co-founder of augmented reality (AR) startup Blippar and Nikhil Rathi, the chief executive of the London Stock Exchange. Medopad creates remote patient monitoring apps, and uses mobile technology and advanced analytics to deliver efficient care to patients. The company has signed 15 trade deals with Chinese organisations that will see it advance the use of AI in healthcare platforms across China.