To many, blockchain brings to mind cryptocurrencies, but blockchain is essentially a secure digital record of transactions. Artificial intelligence (AI) uses computer systems to perform tasks that ordinarily require human intelligence, such as predictions. Blockchain and AI are novel and potentially disruptive innovations in healthcare sector. AI has had notable successes in many scientific and engineering fields. Healthcare and biomedical research are no exceptions, where it is being used to assess physiological measurements, medical images, improving outcome predictions and individualizing therapy. AI is poised to revolutionise areas of precision medicine, particularly with the rise of wearable sensors and -omic technologies. Blockchain in healthcare is less well advanced, but it has the potential to also be transformative. Its ability to keep an incorruptible, decentralized and transparent log of all data makes it a technology ripe for increasing the security, privacy, and interoperability of health data that can protect the sensitivity of medical data. The decentralized nature of the technology also allows patients, doctors and healthcare providers to share the same information quickly and safely.

This book reviews the technologies and benefits offered by AI and blockchain in particular, and the integration of both in modern biomedical research. Following an introduction to AI and blockchain, it discusses fundamental details and application of blockchain in healthcare and the potential bring offered by a synergistic combination of both technologies. The information technology and applications discussed in the book will be essential for academic and commercial researchers, computer scientists, database professionals, and healthcare practitioners needing to understand how these technologies will form a new foundation of biomedical research and modern healthcare.