UL Lafayette to establish research center focused on implementing AI in health care
Thu, 10/16/2025 - 10:25am
A National Science Foundation planning grant has paved the way for the Accessible Healthcare through AI-Augmented Decisions Center – or AHeAD Center – which will be led by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
The center will pair a multi-university team of researchers with health care industry stakeholders to create AI-augmented decision support tools designed to enhance health care delivery, improve patient outcomes and reduce costs, according to information on the AHeAD website.
Dr. Raju Gottumukkala, director of UL Lafayette’s Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence, will direct the AHeAD Center. Its co-directors and partnering institutions are Dr. Aron Culotta (Tulane University), Dr. Ghassan AlRegib (Georgia Institute of Technology) and Dr. Joel Harley (University of Florida).
AI researchers and implementation experts from each of the universities will pool expertise in areas such as computer science, systems engineering and health sciences, and collaborate with health organizations to address barriers to implementing AI systems into the health care industry.
“If deployed the right way, AI offers tremendous promise for advancing health care, including its potential for helping to detect problems early, manage chronic conditions and bridge gaps in health care delivery, including in rural regions where resources are lacking, provider shortages are common, and health outcomes are traditionally poor,” Gottumukkala explained.
The AHeAD Center is part of the NSF’s Industry University Cooperative Research Center program. The program provides a model for companies to acquire external technologies through open innovation by partnering with universities.
The AHeAD Center will be funded through membership fees from industry, with NSF grants and by the partner universities, said Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, UL Lafayette’s vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development.
“Our society is on the cusp of a health technology revolution and UL Lafayette – along with our partners at other universities and in industry – is primed to lead AI innovation into the future,” Kolluru explained.
“The AHeAD initiative has garnered industry support from dozens of organizations and entities, including health care providers, technology companies and specialized AI firms. By prioritizing practical applications of AI, we can transform lives and health outcomes in unprecedented ways, and we’re looking forward to more universities and companies joining the effort,” he added.
Contact Dr. Raju Gottumukkala to learn more about the program or inquire about becoming a partner organization or entity at raju@louisiana.edu.
Photo caption: An NSF planning grant has paved the way for the Accessible Healthcare through AI-Augmented Decisions Center, or AHeAD Center, which will research AI in health care.Dr. Raju Gottumukkala, director of UL Lafayette’s Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence, will direct the center. Photo credit: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
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