UB’s AI and health equity plan advances in NSF Engines grant program

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

The proposal, officially named “AI for Health Equity,” was among those chosen 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 investment from the CHIPS and Science Act, which Congress approved in 2022. 

“From Buffalo pioneering the next generation of AI, to Cornell discovering new technology to help our upstate dairy farmers, to Rochester powering the future of laser development, these projects show how New York can lead our nation in developing the technology and jobs of the future,” Schumer said in a news release. “The NSF is saying what I have long known: keeping America at the cutting edge of innovation across industries begins 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, boosting New York to further lead the charge in powering America’s economic preeminence.”

Rep. Tim Kennedy said the NSF Engines program is strengthening the nation’s manufacturing sector and boosting its global competitiveness.

He said UB and peers could “receive game-changing 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, statewide, research consortium created by Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers — will leverage its expertise in AI to alleviate health disparities in the greater Buffalo area.

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

“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. In championing federal research funding for institutions of higher education, Sen. Schumer is helping UB fuel impactful innovations, contribute measurably to economic development and enhance health outcomes across the lifespan.”

Health inequities in Western New York mirror the nation as a whole, UB officials say, adding that persistent health conditions drive people out of the workforce, which in turn negatively impacts the broader economy through lost participation and added health care costs.

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

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

The project also aims to boost new startup companies working to commercialize AI technology centered on health and wellness. Eventually, the project will expand to serve communities throughout the nation and world.

UB will submit its full proposal to NSF by February. Final awards are expected to be announced later in the year.