Business Education

Interdisciplinary faculty team at FSU awarded grant for research on AI applied to health equity

By Staff Report, posted 1 year ago
Image provided by FSU

A team of faculty from multiple departments at Fayetteville State University received a $100,000 grant from the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) to increase research capacity in AI applied to Health Equity.

The funding was provided under AIM-AHEAD’s Program for Artificial Intelligence Readiness (PAIR). Faculty members from computer science, biology and nursing are collaborating with the PAIR program to develop research capabilities that can transform Health Equity through novel applications of AI.

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the enabling technology of the 21st century and it has transformed, and continues to transform, many aspects of our lives,” said Sambit Bhattacharya, Ph.D., full professor of Computer Science and principal investigator for the research project, in a press release. “AI has high potential for improving Health Equity by analyzing large and complex health care datasets to combat disparities in minority healthcare.”

Collaborating with Bhattacharya are co-investigators Jiazheng Yuan, Ph.D, associate professor and assistant chair of the Biology and Forensic Science department and nursing faculty members Angela McLaurin, Ph.D, and Jamil Norman, Ph.D.

The team’s Phase I, Increasing Capacity in Health Equity through Use-Inspired Research in Artificial Intelligence, will focus on creating the foundation for establishing a comprehensive network of prominent scholars and experienced practitioners. The network will collaboratively participate in workshops and symposia to delineate specific research thrusts, pinpoint existing gaps in research, understand the current state of research infrastructure and discern technological methods that can be employed.

Creating this network is the catalyst for establishing an AI Lab on Health Equity.

Focusing on minority populations and other communities that often face extra challenges is a pivotal aspect of this initiative. “Using AI to connect people to community resources can also help to decrease health disparities,” Bhattacharya added in a press release.

The primary funder of the AIM-AHEAD consortium is the National Institutes of Health.

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT

In The Current Issue

100 years young: The Prince Charles Hotel sees new life with incoming businesses and ongoing renovations

Fayetteville City Councilwoman Brenda McNair, building Owner Rory Dowling, the real estate team over leasing and community manager for the Residences at the Prince Charles Sherry Wcislak cut the ribbon for the community. Photo by GFBJNew life can be


Finding solutions: SOFtact Solutions carries a passion for problem-solving in support of today's warfighters and other government entities

Since starting her company in 2017, MA has grown her company to include over 80 employees and contractors, handling work in Communication, Computers,Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center (C5ISR) suite.SOFtact Solutions (STS) CEO


Food for a cause: 18th Annual Bread 'N Bowls event highlights upcoming programs and developments for area nonprofit

Current Executive Director of Inasmuch Pastor Craig Morrison (left) continues to work with Founder and previous Executive Director Sue Byrd (right) who continues to volunteer with the organization. Photo by GFBJ.For the last 18 years, Fayetteville Ar