Utrecht computer scientists and biologists partner in multi-million project AI and healthcare

Computer scientists and biologists at Utrecht University play an important role in a major national collaboration around artificial intelligence in healthcare over the next decade. The consortium led by UMC Utrecht will receive 65 million euros of funding for this purpose from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). In this consortium, called AI4HEALTH, partners from healthcare, research, society and business are deploying AI to make healthcare better, faster and more accessible.

Dutch healthcare faces major challenges. The population is aging, more people are living with multiple conditions at the same time, and costs are rising. At the same time, there is a growing shortage of healthcare personnel. It is estimated that by 2040, one in four workers would have to work in healthcare to meet demand.

AI can help make healthcare smarter and more efficient. But while many AI applications for healthcare are being developed, little of them are yet making their way into everyday healthcare practice. AI4HEALTH received funding to change that by developing AI that is more applicable in healthcare.

Permanent part of healthcare

AI4HEALTH, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Carl Moons of UMC Utrecht, aims to apply and scale up reliable, effective and safe AI that becomes a permanent part of healthcare. The project is thereby not focusing on single solutions, but on improving the entire healthcare system using AI. These include developing and testing AI, safe application and maintenance, among others.

AI4HEALTH focuses on disease areas where the impact of AI is high: cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia and mental illness, and regenerative medicine. Within these areas, AI4HEALTH develops, tests and implements many concrete AI applications in real healthcare practice: from the hospital to the home.

One of our tasks is to ensure that the AI tools we develop are genuinely usable for healthcare professionals, clients and patients.

Utrecht expertise

Researchers from Utrecht University play a significant role in the national project. Professor Judith Masthoff, director of the AI for Healthy Living Lab, jointly leads several sections of the research together with Hanna Hauptman.

“One of our tasks is to ensure that the AI tools we develop are genuinely usable for healthcare professionals, clients and patients,” explains Masthoff. “This means we explicitly take the human factor and existing hospital workflows into account during the design phase. In this area, we can fully draw on our expertise in human-centred computing and personalisation.” Shihan Wang is also contributing to this part of the project.

Testing in practice

In addition, researchers in Utrecht focus on validating AI tools in real-world practice. “That goes beyond mere accuracy,” says Masthoff. “We also assess added value in clinical workflows, stakeholder satisfaction, and financial implications.” Utrecht professor Lukas Kapitein is closely involved in one of the use cases in which this is being applied. Here, AI is used to analyse microscopy measurements from disease models, supporting both disease detection and the testing of new medicines.

Finally, the researchers, including Slinger Jansen, are working on scaling these applications to other hospitals and healthcare domains. “The aim is to develop a ‘recipe book’ containing tried-and-tested design patterns, guidelines and checklists for AI in healthcare, so that every project does not have to start from scratch,” says Masthoff. “This document will cover all relevant aspects, from human-centred design to legislation, regulation, and safety requirements.”

Collaboration

The starting point of AI4HEALTH is collaboration. In addition to NWO, the large national program is co-funded by a broad network of parties. In the program, researchers from all kinds of institutions work together with teaching and general hospitals, health funds and many data and innovation partners. Patient organizations, insurers and policy makers are also involved.

Through the direct involvement of all relevant parties, AI4HEALTH's data and AI solutions are better aligned with everyday healthcare practice and with laws and regulations. Corporate partners contribute knowledge on developing and testing innovations. Health funds contribute financially and monitor social relevance.