Announcing the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Health AI

October 3, 2024

Dear Rutgers Health Community,

I am excited to announce the establishment of the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Health Artificial Intelligence (BMIHAI), a transformative initiative at Rutgers Health designed to position Rutgers as a national leader in computational medicine and health AI.

The center, which was jump-started with $3.75 million from the Roadmaps for Collective Academic Excellence initiative by University Academic Affairs, will be housed within the Rutgers Institute for Health, Healthcare Policy, and Aging Research. A collaborative initiative, the center will engage all schools and institutes based at Rutgers Health, key partners from other Rutgers chancellor-led units, and health system and private sector partners. The search for a nationally renowned leader to serve as the center’s inaugural director has already been initiated.

The overarching goal of the BMIHAI Center is to unite and significantly expand Rutgers' existing strengths across the diverse fields of biomedical informatics—including bioinformatics, clinical informatics, clinical research informatics, public health informatics, and translational bioinformatics. By integrating these unintentionally siloed areas and placing a special focus on advancing health AI, we aim to create a collaborative and nationally visible powerhouse in BMIHAI that is far greater than the sum of its parts.

The BMIHAI Center has four primary goals:

1. Education and Training: Developing cutting-edge degree programs, internships, and specialized training in bioinformatics and AI to prepare the next generation of healthcare and biomedical professionals and researchers.
2. Data Integration: Building a comprehensive data warehouse that combines electronic medical records, clinical trial data, and omics to support innovative research and improve patient outcomes.
3. Research and Innovation: Driving collaborative research that leverages AI and machine learning to develop new insights, enhance diagnostics, and improve health outcomes.
4. Faculty Development and Recruitment: Attracting top-tier talent to strengthen Rutgers’ leadership in biomedical informatics and AI.

I thank Tobias Gerhard, David Foran, Antonina Mitrofanova, and Evan Johnson for putting together an exciting and timely proposal, as well as President Jonathan Holloway and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabhas Moghe for their generous support from the Roadmaps for Collective Academic Excellence initiative.

Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, BMIHAI will transform the way we conduct research and significantly enhance our ability to provide personalized, data-driven care. I look forward to seeing the remarkable contributions this center will bring to Rutgers Health, Rutgers University, and the broader community.

Brian L. Strom, MD, MPH
Chancellor, Rutgers Health
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Rutgers University