News

The RCMI Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities is pleased to share that a recent publication by Dr. Abiel Roche-Lima and collaborators was highlighted during a presentation on the initiative AIM-AHEAD to the NIH Council of Councils. This Council comprises 27 members, selected from NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) Advisory Councils, representatives nominated by the Office of the Director program offices, and broad lay representation. The virtual meeting was held on April 5th, 2024.

During the Inaugural Plenary Session of the UPR-MSC Annual Research and Education Forum, Dr. Paul Harris, Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Engineering at Vanderbilt University and Keynote Speaker, highlighted the contributions of Ms. Brenda Nieves as a REDCap resource at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. He praised Ms. Nieves for her experience and valuable contributions to the inception and dissemination of the REDCap platform in clinical and basic research. Ms. Nieves serves as Systems Programmer of the Integrated Informatics Services unit of the RCMI Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities.

The RCMI Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities (RCMI-CCRHD) congratulates Dr. Abiel Roche-Lima on his promotion to Associate Professor in the Deanship of Academic Affairs. Dr. Roche-Lima joined the UPR Medical Sciences Campus (UPR-MSC) in 2015 when he was recruited by the RCMI-CCRHD to serve in the Research Capacity Core. This promotion recognizes his excellent contributions to teaching, research, and services, as well as his services in integrating new advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, into ongoing research activities at the UPR-MSC.

Congratulations to Dr. Eduardo Tosado, who recently completed Qiagen's Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) Course Certificate. This analysis allows users to comprehensively analyze gene expression data and infer the underlying causes of the observed fold changes, predict downstream effects and discover new targets or candidate biomarkers. Dr. Tosado is a member of the Integrated Information Services facility at the RCMI Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities.

On January 31st, the Integrated Informatics Services facility held a mini-symposium titled:

'Artificial Intelligence Applied to Health Disparities". The event focused on various aspects of artificial intelligence in the context of healthcare, emphasizing disparities in health outcomes, workforce diversity in Al/ML, validation of Al tools in pathology, and ethical guidelines for Al in high-stakes decisions. The event incorporated discussions, presentations, and collaborative activities aimed at advancing the application of Al in healthcare with an emphasis on ethical considerations and equity.

Guest speakers included Drs. Jamboor K. Vishwanatha and Lavanya Vishwanatha from North Texas University, Mr. Mariano de Socarrez, CorePlus, Corp, and Dr. Kenneth W. Goodman, University of Miami. An active discussion followed each of the presentations.

On October 25th, the Community Engagement Core (CEC) of the RCMI-Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities (RCMI-CCRHD) presented a seminar on their role and strategies to reach the communities we served. The seminar adafessed essential definitions, concepts and strategies for engaging our communities in health disparities research, a center's main goal. Participants included BioCOM graduate student volunteers and RCMI-CCRHD personnel associated with the Research Capacity Core. The activity strengthened collaborations between the two cores and prepared student volunteers to interact effectively in community settings. BioCom students and RCC personnel praised the role of the CEC in engaging and promoting the involvement of our communities in achieving the Program's goals.

AIM-AHEAD Activity in Atlanta

Dr. Eduardo Tosado, a member of the RCMI-CCRHD Integrated Informatics team, actively engaged in the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM/AHEAD). The event was hosted by Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Tosado presented his research project recently funded by AlM-AHEAD and actively participated in various sessions and training activities, seizing the opportunity to expand his professional network.

The leadership and staff of the RCMI-CCRHD Integrated Informatics Services (IIS) participated in the IV Brazilian Congress of Assistive Technology. The Congress was held on November 6- 10, 2023 in Florianópolis, Brazil. The event provided a space for dialogue and knowledge exchange to promote scientific dissemination related to research and development of technologies for inclusion and improvement of the quality of life for people with disabilities, impairments, and reduced mobility. Dr. Abiel Roche-Lima, Keynote Speaker and IIS Core Leader, shared his experience in "Artificial Intelligence Applied to Health Disparities and Assistive Technology". Dr. Frances Heredia, IIS Specialist, presentation focused on the "Promotion of individualized care and protection in the management of epilepsy. A Review of Pre-ictal Phase Prediction in Assistive Technologies".
 

On November 29th, the leaders of the five facilities supported by the Research Capacity Core of the RCMI Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities held their biannual meeting. Topics discussed included the preparation of progress reports, the current status of facility services, and plans for the next year. The information gathered will be included in the programmatic progress reports submitted to NIMHD.

New Director's Corner Blog Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month In celebration of the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanics and Latinos, the NIH Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS) is highlighting one of its flagship initiatives. The Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) program, launched in 2021 is increasing diversity in the Al/ML workforce and building a more inclusive research community to address health disparities and advance health equity.