麻豆传媒

A UB-led coalition’s plan to transform health care by tapping the transformative power of artificial intelligence has advanced to the semifinals of a major federal grant program.

The National Science Foundation recently that the plan — Western New York AI for Health Innovations — was among 29 chosen to move forward in its Regional Innovation Engines program. NSF had been considering 71 proposals.

The news was welcomed at UB, where officials say the plan will build upon the university’s expertise in AI and data science, as well as medical research and health care delivery, to improve patient outcomes and grow the region’s biomedical economy.

“The advancement of our NSF Engines proposal is a recognition of Western New York’s dynamic innovation ecosystem. Our plan unites academia, health care providers, industry and community partners — all with the goal of tackling challenges and inefficiencies in the regional health care system that can then be applied nationwide,” said Venu Govindaraju, vice president for research and economic development.

The UB proposal features more than 50 partner organizations, including health care providers, industry, nonprofits, education and workforce development, government entities and business incubators.

The plan calls for harnessing AI to address critical health care challenges, such as chronic disease management, workforce shortages, rising costs, delivery inefficiencies, system fragmentation and more.

If awarded, UB’s NSF Engine will build up an innovative health care ecosystem that focuses on three pillars of health care: delivery, operations and supply. Each pillar can dramatically benefit from AI solutions, Govindaraju said.

UB and its partners are uniquely positioned to apply AI to the health care sector, Govindaraju said. This includes Empire AI, the statewide research consortium whose supercomputing infrastructure is housed at UB, as well as hundreds of UB researchers employing AI for the public good, many of whom are working in health-related fields.

For example, under the delivery pillar, researchers can harness AI to develop new drugs, diagnostic tests and medical procedures that can be used to identify and treat disease. For the operations pillar, AI can help organize health care data, improve clinical trials and support administrative tasks. And it can address supply issues, such as the design and manufacturing of new medical devices. Together, these advancements will create new efficiencies in the health care sector, reducing costs and improving patient outcomes.

The plan will build upon the region’s strong startup ecosystem and workforce development programs, and engage urban, suburban and rural communities — making the use-inspired solutions it develops easily replicable nationwide.

“These objectives will ensure that Buffalo and the nation remain at the forefront of technological innovation, all while fostering economic growth and competitiveness,” Govindaraju said.

NSF is expected to announce Engines award finalists this fall, and award winners early next year. Learn more about UB’s NSF Engines proposal .