The University of San Francisco Announces the Launch of the Wicklow AI and Medical Research Initiative

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Data Institute (DI) at the University of San Francisco (USF) is thrilled to announce the launch of the Wicklow AI and Medical Research Initiative (WAMRI), a new research lab focusing on the development of practical applications of AI in medicine.

"By bringing together medical and AI experts for the first time in this way, WAMRI will allow us to deliver the potential of AI in medicine much sooner, and ensure that real patient and doctor needs are met," said WAMRI Chairman Jeremy Howard, a DI researcher and founder of numerous startups including Enlitic, the first organization focused on bringing deep learning to medicine.

WAMRI will create a dedicated opportunity for scholars to develop novel AI models to advance critical medical research across areas including oncology, cardiology and neurology. WAMRI already has five joint projects organized between USF and UCSF researchers and students across all of these areas.

WAMRI's funding comes thanks to a gift from Wicklow Capital to support research at the intersection of machine learning, AI and medicine. The researchers and faculty at the DI have a high impact record of conducting multidisciplinary research in collaboration with leading medical research institutions such as UCSF, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital.

"The rapid adoption and increased acceptance by the medical research community of tools such as deep learning, AI and machine learning is very encouraging. Medicine is a uniquely favorable field for data scientists to work as the data is often difficult but rich with information and the impacts are far reaching," David Uminsky, Executive Director of the DI, explained. "This support from WAMRI will provide an opportunity to develop the next generation of researchers at the frontier of AI and medicine, accelerate breakthroughs in this space and become a focal point to attract new research partnerships in the ML/AI and medicine space."

Established in 2016, the DI at USF serves as the umbrella organization for data science research and programming at the University of San Francisco. The DI offers MS Data Science, BS Data Science and continuing education certificates. Contact info: [email protected].

About the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco is located in the heart of one of the world's most innovative and diverse cities and is home to a vibrant academic community of students and faculty who achieve excellence in their fields. Its diverse student body enjoys direct access to faculty, small classes, and outstanding opportunities in the city itself. USF is San Francisco's first university, and its Jesuit Catholic mission helps ignite a student's passion for social justice and a desire to "Change the World From Here." For more information, visit usfca.edu.

SOURCE University of San Francisco

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