Informatics Research Institute
We are committed to groundbreaking research, shaped by community and user engagement, that drives scientific advancements and real-world solutions toward healthier populations, resilient communities, and a secure, interconnected world.
Where technology aligns with human values to transform society
Our mission is to harness the power of AI and data science through:
- Conducting use-inspired research that addresses critical societal challenges in population health, crisis response, community resilience, and cybersecurity.
- Creating innovative technology that empowers researchers, practitioners, and communities to leverage AI and data science for positive impact.
- Educating and training the next generation of experts to tackle complex challenges and contribute to a safer, healthier, and more resilient world.
The Informatics Research Institute (IRI) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is home to five research centers that utilize information to address significant societal problems.
The Accessible Healthcare Through AI Augmented Decisions (AHeAD) Center is a proposed National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center that brings together interdisciplinary experts in various topics related to AI, machine learning (ML), clinical and public health decision support, and implementation science. Our mission is to address technology gaps and develop best practices for creating usable AI-based healthcare decision-support tools for everyone.
Learn more about AHeAD and meet the Director, Raju Gottumukkala, PhD.
The Center for Applied AI (CAAI) is dedicated to pursuing use-driven AI research, training an AI-ready workforce, and creating a platform to accelerate innovation to support the local economy. The center serves as a hub where AI researchers, domain experts from diverse disciplines, industry specialists, and community stakeholders come together to address real-world challenges.
The Center for Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (CCIC) brings together multiple and diverse experts from across the University to help our nation prepare for cyberattacks that may impact the country's critical infrastructure.CCIC was founded to examine cybersecurity from the perspective of the cascading impact of a significant cyber incident on the nation’s critical infrastructure, such as that experienced by the 2015 cyberattack on the Ukrainian Power Grid. The Center for the Study of Existential Risk at Cambridge University, UK, now places cyberattacks as a “blue sky hazard” that can take an entire power grid down for a prolonged period. A consequence of such an attack would extend beyond the loss of data; it could completely disrupt the functioning of society, much like a large-scale natural disaster.
The Louisiana Center for Health Innovation (LCHI) is dedicated to advancing healthcare innovation by developing research, education, and engagement activities that foster collaboration among academia, industry, and the community. This commitment aims to improve healthcare outcomes, promote health equity, and develop a skilled workforce that meets the needs of Louisiana and beyond.
Learn more about LCHI and meet the Director, Gabriela Wilson, PhD, MSc, FHIMSS, FIAHSI, SNAI.
The National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies (NIMSAT) Institute focuses on enriching public-private partnerships and advanced information technologies to enhance the national resiliency for a full range of potential disasters. Our Mission is to save human lives. Our experienced emergency management team joins university researchers and technology experts to build a more resilient America through education, training, outreach, and operational support, empowering the homeland security and emergency management community.
The NIMSAT Institute manages the daily operations of the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center (LABEOC). The center assists Louisiana businesses and non-profit organizations in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts to ensure community stability, resilience, and economic revitalization.
