University at Buffalo (UB)
NSF Engine: Western New York AI for Health Innovations
A coalition led by the University at Buffalo
Imagine if the lessons learned, partnerships forged, and technologies proven in Western New York are scaled nationwide—where practitioners and AI experts work directly with patients to enhance decision-making and forge true partnerships in care.
The National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program was established to advance critical technologies and grow regional economies nationwide. Each NSF Engine can receive up to $160 million to support the development of regional coalitions of researchers, institutions and companies to conduct research and development that engages people in the process of creating solutions with economic and societal impacts.
Vision
WNY becomes a scalable, replicable national model for community-informed, industry-driven AI applications in healthcare, positioning the U.S. as a global leader in AI healthcare innovation.
Mission
The Engine builds an integrated ecosystem to accelerate AI-driven advancements from model to market and bench to bedside – expanding care access, improving efficiency and fueling economic growth.
Project Overview
The Engine will build a leading innovation ecosystem focused on developing AI solutions to address critical national healthcare challenges, including chronic disease management, workforce shortages, access barriers, delivery inefficiencies, system fragmentation and rising costs.
Per Stromhaug
Senior Associate Vice President for Economic Development
The coalition assembled by UB, supported by the innovation capacity of the SUNY system and the unprecedented New York State investments in AI, is uniquely positioned to become a leader in AI-enabled healthcare innovation, workforce development and community engagement.
In July, our National Science Foundation (NSF) Engine proposal, Western New York AI for Health Innovations, was selected as one of the 29 semifinalists nationwide to proceed to a Virtual Site Visit. UB's proposal is the only one with AI as the primary key technology area.
Olga Petrova, PhD
University at Buffalo, Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships, Director, Innovation Initiatives
Engines: Interim CEO and co-PI
Olga has 20 years of combined experience in academic biomedical research and technology transfer and has stood up multiple technology commercialization programs, training hundreds of academic innovators and startup teams. She has also been part of the leadership of major federal place-based economic development initiatives with cross-sector stakeholder coalitions.
Today Olga manages a suite of technology commercialization, entrepreneurship and business development initiatives for UB's Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships and serves as adjunct faculty for the NSF I-Corps Teams Program.
Venu Govindaraju, PhD
University at Buffalo, Vice President of Research and Economic Development
Engines: Chief AI Innovation Officer, PI
and Board of Directors
Venu pioneered AI technologies that transformed the postal industry globally. And, more than three decades later, his innovations continue to shape industries worldwide.
As principal investigator for the 20-million-dollar NSF and Department of Education -funded National AI Institute for Exceptional Education, his team is once again at the forefront of AI for good, aiding speech language pathologists in supporting children with communications challenges. Venu is a member of the Empire AI Board of Directors, co-chaire of the SUNY AI Task Force and an advisor to the SUNY IBM Research Alliance.
Key Drivers: Engine Programs
Use-Inspired
Research & Development
Translation of Innovations to Practice
Training Programs & Workforce Development
Cross-Sector Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagements
Sustainable Capital & Strategic Investments
Inclusive Regional Engagement
Key Drivers: Resources and Programs
The following are examples of programs or resources that could be proposed by partners to drive the Engine.
Comprehensive Approach, Favored by Ecosystem Partners
The WNY AI for Health Innovation will catalyze connected AI, healthcare, and a community network.
Our comprehensive approach is to connect the innovation and healthcare ecosystems and enable key drivers, that will drive momentum with partners across the entire ecosystem.
The Engine will work with 4 regional healthcare systems, a major physician group, and a comprehensive cancer center. It will also support key workforce development, community, and government partners to ensure broad regional engagement, trust, and impacts. The Engine will work across all aspects of the healthcare ecosystem, spanning delivery, operations, and supply
Cross-Sector Partnerships
UB and SUNY are bringing together a coalition of R&D centers, tech industry leaders, healthcare systems, community organizations, training and workforce development partners, public and private funders and state agencies. We’re currently seeking additional cross-sector partners to propose and run programs or projects and commit resources that advance key drivers of innovation and address pressing societal challenges in the Western New York area.
RESOURCES
COMMUNITY
INNOVATION
INDUSTRY
*Core Partners
Academic/R&D
- University at Buffalo*
- State University of New York (SUNY)*
- Upstate Medical University*
- University at Albany*
- Stony Brook University*
- Jacobs Institute (JI)
- Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
- Empire AI
Healthcare
- Kaleida Health*
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center*
- Erie County Medical Center (ECMC)*
- UBMD
- Catholic Health
- Community Health Center of Buffalo
- Rochester Regional Health
- HEALTHeLINK
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield WNY
Non-Profits, Foundations
- Health Foundation of C&WNY*
- Rural Outreach Center
- 43North Foundation
- LifeSciences NY
- Jobs for the Future Foundation (JFF)
Economic Development & Government
- Invest Buffalo Niagara*
- Seneca Nation of Indians*
- Buffalo Niagara Partnership
- NYS Department of Health
- Empire State Development
Incubators & Accelerators
- 43North
- WNY Incubator Network (WIN)
- CNY Biotech Accelerator (Upstate Medical)
- Empire Discovery Institute
Investors
- Launch NY*
- Excell Partners
- WNY Venture Association
- Upstate Venture Connect (UVC)
- Armory Square Ventures
Workforce Development & Education
- TechBuffalo*
- NYS Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
- Erie Niagara AHEC
- WNY Rural AHEC
- Boards of Cooperative Education Services
- Julius Education
- SUNY Niagara
Industry
- IBM
- Epic
- NVIDIA
- Microsoft
- GE Healthcare
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Linde
- Trinity Biotech/Immco Diagnostics
- Accenture
- Cisco
- Siemens Healthineers
- Amazon Web Services
Subaward Partners
While led by the University at Buffalo, this initiative is driven by our partners, with 12 organizations designated to receive subawards—contingent upon the successful funding of the grant—to create and expand their programs.
Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES)
Erie County Medical Center (ECMC)
Erie Niagara AHEC
Health Foundation for Western & Central New York
Invest Buffalo Niagara
Kaleida Health
Launch NY
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Seneca Nation of Indians
State University of New York (SUNY)
Tech Buffalo
Western New York Rural AHEC
UB/SUNY Coalition Strengths
The SUNY system, which is home to 64 colleges and universities across New York State, generates $1B annually in R&D expenditures, holds >1,500 patents and >800 licenses, has formed 120 startups and has 18 innovation incubators. SUNY and UB alike continue to make strategic investments to advance AI innovations. These are just a few of the AI centers and initiatives underway.
NEW YORK STATE
Empire AI
Empire AI is a bold partnership of New York’s leading public and private universities coming together to establish a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center, housed at SUNY’s University at Buffalo.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Where Curiosity Meets Cutting-Edge Research
At UB, we push the boundaries of what's possible. From pioneering robotics and AI to uncovering the secrets of our world, curiosity drives us forward. Here, at one of the nation’s leading public research universities and New York’s flagship, is where it all begins.
Going All In on AI
At UB, we're at the forefront of AI. Learn how we're harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to develop solutions that will make a difference on local and global scales.