2025 Health Data Science Focused Research Program Workshop
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Event Title: Health Data Science Focused Research Program Workshop
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm ET
Location (IN-PERSON): Hiebert Lounge (L1407, 14th Floor), Instructional Building, 72 E Concord St, Instructional Building, Boston, MA, 02218
Event Description: Join us to learn about funding opportunities and meet potential collaborators working in various areas of Health Data Science. This Focused Research Program Workshop will provide information about the current call for proposals and offer a unique networking opportunity. Lunch will follow the presentation.
This event is organized and supported by the Digital Health Initiative at the Hariri Institute for Computing, the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, the Center for Health Data Science, and the BU Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
For questions, please contact Robin MacDonald at remac@bu.edu.
Detailed Agenda:
- 12:00 – 12:25 pm
- Welcome by Stephen Brown, Executive Director, Hariri Institute for Computing
- SAIL Presentation by William Tomlinson, Software & Application Innovation Lab (SAIL) Director
- Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Presentation by Katya Ravid, Founding Director
- Health Data Science Presentation by Laura White, Professor of Biostatistics; Associate Director of the Center for Health Data Science
- Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Presentation by William G. Adams, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Director, BU-CTSI Biomedical Informatics
- 12:25 – 12:50 pm Faculty Lightning Presentations
- 12:50 – 1:00 pm Brainstorm Discussion & Next Steps by Stephen Brown
- 1:00 – 1:30 pm Networking lunch. (Lunch is provided.)
Faculty Lightning Presentations:
Irena Vodenska, Professor of Finance, Director, Finance Programs, Chair, Administrative Sciences, Metropolitan College
Talk title: Detrimental Consequences of Climate Disinformation
Abstract: Climate disinformation undermines public understanding of climate change, delaying critical actions to mitigate its impacts. This misinformation, among others, exacerbates health risks by fostering environmental degradation, increasing exposure to extreme weather events, and hindering efforts to address climate-related illnesses.
Bio: Dr. Vodenska’s research investigates the propagation of climate disinformation via social networks such as Twitter, examining its impact on public perception, governance, and policy. She employs AI-powered tools, including natural language processing (NLP) and Large Language Models (LLMs), to extract and analyze topics related to climate denial and health concerns, enhancing understanding of their influence on global economic trends.
Presenting on FRP:
Data and Misinformation in an Era of Sustainability and Climate Change CrisesSwathi Kiran, James and Cecilia Tse Ying Professor in Neurorehabilitation, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Director, Center for Brain Recovery
Talk title: Novel Data Science and AI approaches for Brain Health and Brain Disease
Abstract: The goals of the FRP titled “Novel data science and AI approaches for Brain Health and Brain Disease” are to bring together researchers and faculty across the BU campus focused three overlapping and broad foci of research: (a) continuous brain monitoring, (b) brain fingerprinting, and (c) digital health.
Bio: Swathi Kiran is the founder of the Center for Brain Recovery, James and Cecelia Ying Professor of Neurorehabilitation at Boston University
Presenting on FRP:
Novel Data Science and AI Approaches for Brain HealthGregory Wellenius, Professor, Environmental Health, School of Public Health
Talk title: Leveraging big data to accelerate climate change and health research and translation.
Abstract: Continued climate change significantly threatens our health, wellbeing, and communities. In this FRP we developed new approaches to accelerate the pace of research and translation in this space and position BU as a distinct leader at the intersection of climate, biogeosciences, and health.
Bio: Gregory Wellenius is Professor of Environmental Health and serves as the Director of the Center for Climate and Health. He leads or co-leads a number of efforts designed to support global climate and health research and translation.
Presenting on FRP:
Health Equity in the Wake of Continued Climate ChangeKayhan Batmanghelich, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Boston University
Talk title: Auditing Breast Cancer Risk Screening AI Models for Hidden Biases using Multimodal Large Language Models
Abstract: AI is increasingly being used to estimate cancer risk for various screenings, including breast cancer. However, AI models are only as good as the data they are trained on, which is often opaque. This creates numerous opportunities for biases to infiltrate these models. Identifying such biases is challenging for AI developers due to a lack of domain knowledge and for clinicians due to a limited understanding of AI. We are developing a so-called AI agent that continuously monitors the performance of AI models, formulates hypotheses, and proposes solutions to mitigate these biases.
Bio: Kayhan Batmanghelich is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Boston University. Previously, he served as a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His expertise lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare applications. His lab is supported by funding from the NIH, NSF, and various industry partners.
Presenting on FRP:
Enhancing Models for Breast Cancer Risk Prediction and Bias Mitigation through Clinician AI CollaborationNahid Bhadelia, MD, MALD, Founding Director, Boston University Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEID), Associate Professor, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine
Talk title: Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network (BEACON)
Abstract: Forthcoming
Bio: Dr. Bhadelia is the founding director of BU Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases. She is a board-certified infectious diseases physician and an Associate Professor at the BU School of Medicine. She served the Senior Policy Advisor for Global COVID-19 Response for the White House COVID-19 Response Team in 2022-2023. She is the Director and co-founder of Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network (BEACON), an open source outbreak surveillance program.
Presenting on FRP:
Predicting and Preventing Epidemic to Pandemic Transitions