Zhang named to CPRIT AI advisory committee

Jiajie Zhang, PhD, dean of McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston, has been appointed to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas’ (CPRIT) new statewide Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence, which will provide guidance on the use and integration of AI in cancer research and healthcare.

The committee was established as researchers, clinicians, and health systems increasingly explore how AI can advance cancer research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Zhang, who also holds The Glassell Family Foundation Distinguished Chair in Informatics Excellence, is one of seven Houston-area researchers and healthcare leaders selected to serve on the 11-member inaugural committee, which includes representatives from UTHealth Houston, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Rice University, Texas A&M University, and The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Its first meeting is scheduled for September.

Bringing medical AI expertise

Zhang brings extensive leadership in biomedical informatics, data science, and artificial intelligence to the committee. At UTHealth Houston, he chairs the university’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force, which is focused on advancing the thoughtful and responsible use of AI across the institution.

His appointment also adds a biomedical informatics perspective to CPRIT’s efforts to examine how emerging AI technologies can support cancer research and discovery.

CPRIT has awarded more than $4 billion in cancer research grants since 2012. Since 2020, the agency has awarded six grants focused on artificial intelligence in cancer research, totaling more than $5 million.