The Mount Sinai Health System in New York City is launching the Hamilton and Amabel James Center for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, a new facility dedicated to the research and application of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies aimed at enhancing health care delivery. This initiative solidifies Mount Sinai's position as a leader in integrating cutting-edge technology into patient care.
Located in a repurposed building at 3 East 101st Street, the centre comprises a 12-story structure spanning 65,000 square feet. Funded by a significant donation from Hamilton Evans “Tony” James, Executive Vice Chairman of the investment firm Blackstone, and his wife Amabel, the centre will initially accommodate around 40 Principal Investigators and approximately 250 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, computer scientists, and supporting staff.
As part of Mount Sinai's strategic expansion into AI, Eric Nestler, MD, PhD, who serves as Director of the Friedman Brain Institute and Dean for Academic and Scientific Affairs at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, highlighted the centre's role in enhancing diagnostic and treatment capabilities through advanced technologies. “By integrating AI technology across genomics, imaging, pathology, electronic health records, and beyond, Mount Sinai is revolutionizing doctors’ capacity to diagnose and treat patients,” he explained, adding that maintaining leadership in digital health is critical given the rapid evolution of AI technology.
The centre's development also acknowledges the necessity for investment in AI research within academic institutions. Dennis S. Charney, MD, the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean at Icahn Mount Sinai, remarked, “If we want to use artificial intelligence for the greater good and make significant progress in health care, investing in AI research and development within academic institutions is essential.” He noted that while large tech companies have substantial funding, they may lack the access to health care systems crucial for progress.
The AI centre will feature several core facilities dedicated to Mount Sinai's AI initiatives. The Windreich Department of AI and Human Health aims to create an “AI Fabric” to integrate machine learning and AI-driven decision-making across the health system's eight hospitals. The Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai, created in partnership with Germany's Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering, enhances capabilities in areas such as data science and machine learning. This institute received renewed funding from the Hasso Plattner Foundation for an additional five years in 2024.
Another essential component of the centre is the Institute for Genomic Health and Division of Medical Genetics, focused on applying genomic research to develop innovative prevention and treatment strategies for diseases, including various cancers and genetic disorders.
With this ambitious facility, Mount Sinai Health System aims to foster collaboration among researchers and harness the potential of AI to drive advancements in human health, reflecting an increasingly important trend in the integration of technology within the medical field.
Source: Noah Wire Services