The
recent emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods and audio
signal processing techniques open new perspectives on the use of voice
to detect or monitor diseases. The vocal biomarker research field is
booming but is facing, like other AI-driven fields, a reproducibility
and generalisability crisis. To move this promising field of research
forward, there is an urgent need to develop a common research framework
in Europe, with standardization principles and definitions of good
practices and guidelines to help it reach its full potential. A
multidisciplinary approach is necessary to tackle this complex task
impacting all stakeholders in healthcare virtually.eVoiceNet aims to establish Europe as a leader in vocal biomarkers,
create a collaborative and multidisciplinary network, and facilitate
knowledge sharing, standardisation, and the development of privacy-aware
solutions, by creating an international network of clinicians, AI
experts, speech/voice processing specialists, voice pathologists,
privacy/data protection experts, go-to-market specialists, venture
capitalists and other providers of financial resources, patients
organisations, policymakers as well as industrial partners and other
stakeholders (end users, regulators, and other decision-makers), to
overcome the major challenges and boost the integration of voice
technologies into clinical practice.