About Us

The Informatics Research Institute (IRI) is a division of the University’s Office of the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development. The Institute consists of three centers:

• The Accessible Healthcare for AI-Augmented Decisions (AHeAD) Center addresses technology gaps and creates best practices to develop usable AI-based healthcare decision-support tools for everyone.
• 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 is a hub where AI researchers and domain experts from diverse disciplines, industry specialists, and community stakeholders come together to address real-world challenges.
• Center for Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (CCIC) focuses on cyberattacks that may impact the country’s critical infrastructure.
• Louisiana Center for Health Innovation (LCHI) focuses on health informatics-driven healthcare innovations.
• National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies (NIMSAT) focuses on emergency response and community resilience. NIMSAT manages the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center that supports the business community during a disaster.

University Alignment

• Expand the University’s research and development portfolio and capabilities through contracts and grants.
• Complement the academic programs and contribute to digital media and software development to workforce development through apprenticeship and internships, thesis and project co-direction, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics outreach activities.
• Support the area’s start-ups and entrepreneurs through technology transfer.