Advancing Health Research through Multimodal AI

Background

Multimodal AI has the potential to capture the complexity of biomedical and behavioral systems and improve clinical decision‑making, but realizing this promise requires new innovations in data fusion, model training, evaluation, and application. Ethical considerations—including privacy, fairness, accountability, and transparency—must be integrated throughout the entire lifecycle, from data selection and preparation to model deployment, with careful attention to stakeholder needs. Collaboration among researchers, patients, policymakers, the scientific community, and end users is essential to co‑create multimodal AI systems that reflect shared values and real‑world requirements. As AI advances faster than traditional funding and development timelines, more flexible and agile approaches to AI research and implementation are increasingly necessary.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to develop ethically focused and data-driven multimodal AI approaches to more closely model, interpret, and predict complex biological, behavioral, and health systems and enhance our understanding of health and the ability to detect and treat human diseases.

Program Goals

  • Creation of ethics- and data-driven multimodal AI models for use in biomedical, behavioral, and/or clinical fields
  • Build portfolio of innovative projects that address systems level biomedical challenges using a co-design approach to multimodal AI that integrate the work of various stakeholder groups as appropriate
  • Inform considerations for the appropriate use of multimodal AI and take significant steps towards incorporation of ethical and co-design approach in multimodal AI lifecycle
  • Use translational or end use applications that will be identified and used as test cases for testing and evaluation

Expected Program Outputs

Diagram showing expected program outputs for advancing health research through multimodal AI. Multimodal AI models are informed by ethics and engagement, co-design approaches, multidisciplinary teams, open science and data protection, and systems-level challenges. Through an OTA mechanism, the program produces proof-of-concept demonstrations including new systems-level biomedical research using multimodal AI, clarification of opportunities and risks, and identification of appropriate use considerations compared to other methodologies.

Mulitmodal AI Awards

U.S. map of Multimodal AI Awards, showing states shaded in a blue gradient based on the number of awardees and sub‑awardees, from light blue (1) to dark blue (8). States with higher counts include California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Red location markers indicate specific awardee locations within those states. A legend at the bottom displays the numeric scale from 1 to 8.
Lead InstitutionSub-awardees
Brigham and Women's HospitalMassachusetts General Hospital, University of Washington
University of FloridaIndiana University, University at Buffalo
University of MichiganUniversity of California Los Angeles, Cornell Medicine, Vanderbilt University, University of South Florida
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMarshfield Clinic Research Institute, The Medical College of Wisconsin, The University of Chicago
Northwestern University at ChicagoCleveland Clinic, Cornell Medicine
University of Pennsylvania 
University of Colorado DenverCleveland Clinic
University of California BerkeleyUCSF , Stanford University, University of Virginia
Baylor College of MedicineCredence Management Solutions, UT Health
Stanford University 
Mayo Clinic ArizonaMayo Clinic (Minnesota - Rochester), Arizona State University
University of Texas Health Science CenterUT-Houston, Rice University, UNC-CH, UNC-Charlotte, NC State
University of North CarolinaUC San Diego, Moffitt Cancer Center, Wake Forest, Medical University of South Carolina, UT Houston
University of PittsburghDuke, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Stanford University 
University of California, San Diego 
Emory UniversityStanford University, Mayo Clinic Arizona
Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaColumbia University, Boston Children’s Hospital

Research Focus

  • Breast Cancer Treatment

  • Modeling Of T Cell Therapies

  • Outcome Prediction of Critically Ill Patients

  • Phenotyping Of Inherited Diseases

  • Disease Phenotype Discovery

  • Systemic Lupus Detection

  • Preeclampsia Risk in Early Pregnancy

  • Chronic Kidney Disease

  • Mapping Type 1 Diabetes Progression

  • Substance Misuse Prevention

  • Heart Failure Endotypes

  • Frailty & Digestive Diseases

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary

  • Dermatology

  • Congenital Heart Disease

  • Prostate Cancer

  • Pain Recovery

  • Digital Twins for Medical Device Surveillance

Contact Information

Please direct questions about Advancing Health Research through Multimodal AI to [email protected]

This page last reviewed on April 6, 2026