UB’s AI and Health Equity Plan Advances in NSF Engines Grant Program – UBNow: News and Views for UB Faculty and Staff

UB’s plan to harness the power of artificial intelligence to address health inequities in Buffalo and beyond has reached a major milestone, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday.

The proposal, officially called “AI for Health Equity,” was one of several selected by the National Science Foundation to advance to the next round of the agency’s Regional Innovation Engines program.

UB is now eligible — along with 70 proposals nationwide, including four others in New York — to compete for up to $160 million over 10 years in federal investments from the CHIPS and Science Act, which Congress passed in 2022 .

“From Buffalo pioneering the next generation of AI, to Cornell discovering new technology to help our state’s dairy farmers, to Rochester driving the future of laser development, these projects demonstrate how New York can lead our nation in developing the technology and jobs of the future,” Schumer said in a press release. “The NSF says what I have known for a long time: Keeping America at the forefront of innovation across all sectors starts in New York. This major federal funding can help translate more research and development at New York’s universities into new businesses and new, good-paying jobs across the state, giving New York impetus to further take the lead in strengthening its economic preeminence of America.”

Rep. Tim Kennedy said the NSF Engines program strengthens the nation’s manufacturing sector and increases its global competitiveness.

He said UB and colleagues could receive “groundbreaking federal funding to build on the progress Western New York has made to become a national leader in the tech space. These teams are making our state and region a leader in innovative manufacturing while creating good-paying union jobs.”

President Satish K. Tripathi noted that UB – home to Empire AI, a $400 million research consortium founded by Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers – will leverage its expertise in AI to address health disparities in the greater Buffalo area reduce.

“With an NSF Engines award, UB can leverage our AI-informed health innovations to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families in Western New York, ultimately increasing participation in our region’s economy,” said Tripathi.

“On behalf of all of us at the University at Buffalo, I would like to thank Majority Leader Schumer for his steadfast support of UB. By championing federal research funding for institutions of higher education, Senator Schumer is helping UB fuel impactful innovations, contribute measurably to economic development, and improve health outcomes across the lifespan.”

Western New York’s health disparities reflect the nation as a whole, UB officials say, adding that persistent health problems are pushing people out of the workforce, which in turn negatively impacts the broader economy through lost participation and added costs for healthcare.

The AI ​​for Health Equity project will address this problem through use-inspired, community needs-focused AI technologies. Working with key partners, UB aims to translate AI research into commercial products, such as personal assistants for community members, tools for healthcare providers, tools to improve diagnostics and more.

This will in turn grow the region’s ecosystem around AI, including workforce training and education, and its leadership in AI.

The project also aims to stimulate new start-up companies involved in commercializing AI technology focused on health and wellness. Ultimately, the project will expand to serve communities across the country and the world.

UB will submit its full proposal to NSF in February. Final prices are expected to be announced later this year.