Elizabeth City State University researchers have launched a groundbreaking biomedical science initiative, utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning to tackle persistent health disparities. Led by Kuldeep Rawat, principal investigator and Thorpe Endowed Professor, along with co-principal investigator and biology professor Hirendranath Banerjee, the interdisciplinary team has secured a significant grant from the National Institutes of Health through a partnership with Vanderbilt University. Their primary mission is to deploy advanced computational techniques to analyze genomics and transcriptomic data from prostate cancer patients, with a focus on delivering personalized diagnostics and treatments.
The research is funded under the AIM-AHEAD artificial intelligence/machine learning in Biomedical Research and Clinical Practice that Embodies Ethics and Equity (ABD-EE) program, an initiative designed to champion the development of responsible, equitable, data-driven solutions in health care. By emphasizing the creation of effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, the ECSU project seeks not only to advance scientific understanding but also to address the particular risk prostate cancer poses to African American men, a group historically underserved in mainstream medical research and treatment innovations.
Beyond the immediate scientific goals, this project is seen as a transformative step for ECSU. It strengthens the university’s growing research portfolio in biomedical innovation and data science while providing practical training opportunities for post-doctoral researchers, graduate, and undergraduate students. The initiative aims to elevate ECSU’s capacity to contribute to high-impact research, offering both new analytical tools and a more inclusive approach to cancer care. Ultimately, the researchers hope their advances will lead to more accurate and equitable outcomes for communities that have long been marginalized in health care progress, signaling a shift towards technology-driven hope and empowerment.
